Remembering the fallen: Ghani convinces bereaved parents to attend chehlum

He met the parents and apologised for the police’s misbehaviour with them when PTI chairperson Imran Khan visited APS

PESHAWAR:

Minister for Information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani met the parents of students who died in the assault on Army Public School (APS) and convinced them to participate in the chehlum being observed by the government on Tuesday (today).

The bereaved parents were gathered at a local hotel on Monday to hold a news conference to voice their demands from the government when the minister arrived. Ghani met the parents and apologised for the police’s misbehaviour with them last week when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan visited APS.

The minister convinced the parents to join the government on Tuesday in observing the fallen children’s chehlum at the CM Secretariat. PTI chief Imran Khan and his wife Reham Khan are expected to participate in the event.

The aggrieved parents shared their grievances with Ghani and assured him of their participation. They told the minister that they were not playing politics on their children’s blood and are only protesting to get the culprits arrested.

The parents said they would present their demands to the chief minister and if they are not met, they (parents) will come out to the streets to protest.

On January 14, the day Imran Khan visited APS after its reopening, parents protesting outside the school against the PTI government and Imran Khan were manhandled by the police and security guards. Later, in a news conference, Ghani claimed political parties were involved in the incident which further angered the bereaved parents who then held a news conference refuting the government’s claims.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.