Imran, Reham advised to postpone APS visit today

PTI chief says they were advised not to continue with their visit as the army chief was visiting for a 'soft'...

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday said he and his new wife, Reham Khan, were advised to postpone their visit to the Army Public School in Peshawar due to the army chief's visit. 

Planned to be with our brave children who returned to APS today along with Reham & CM KP, but we were advised to postpone visit 1/2

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 12, 2015

The newlywed Imran, whose PTI is the ruling party in Peshawar, added that him and his wife were advised not to continue with their visit as Army chief General Raheel Sharif was visiting APS for a "soft opening".

2/2 as COAS was going today for what we were told was a "soft" opening of the APS. But we will be there with our brave children this week.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 12, 2015

He said he would visit the school children later this week.

"We will be there with out brave children this week," he tweeted.

The school had been mercilessly attack on December 16 by militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The sombre day marked the death of 150 people, including over 130 children.

Survivors of the attack returned to their studies amid tight security, some students still wearing bandages, Reuters reported.

In an emotionally charged and nervous atmosphere, parents, some crying, met army chief Gen Raheel Sharif who had travelled to Peshawar to address them in a private meeting.

"The army chief didn't make a speech but individually met the parents and assured them they would eliminate the terrorists from the country," a security official told Reuters.

Another official said eight-feet high walls were being built around public schools in Peshawar as part of enhanced security, with hundreds of residents volunteering to protect schools.

But some parents, especially those grieving their children, stayed away from the meeting with the army chief, saying it was too painful for them to go back to the school.

"Yes I was invited to the function and meeting with the army chief. I couldn't dare to go to the school where my sweet son was ruthlessly killed," said one father.

"And what would I get from meeting the army chief when they couldn't even save my young son and children of many other parents?"

"It feels like my son died once again today. When I saw other children going to schools it reminded me of my son. I went to his room and helplessly sat in front of his school bags and school dress."