Peshawar attack: Houses to be built for APS victims, Aitzaz Hasan, says Tehmina Durrani
‘Loss of future bread earners should not leave families bereft of all’.
Tehmina Durrani addresses the conference held in Gulbahar. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Though the attack on Army Public School (APS) was a huge security lapse, the government will now help victims’ parents get their rights. This was stated by Tehmina Durrani who was addressing parents of victims and survivors of the tragedy at a private venue in Gulbahar on Tuesday.
Durrani announced plans to construct houses in the name of each and every child who died in the school massacre on December 16 as well as Hangu hero Aitzaz Hasan. “It will be called Shuhada Colony; I plan to get this project approved from either the federal or provincial government within 15 days.” Durrani did not disclose the location or the number of houses in the works.
“Such a huge sacrifice has been offered by the people of Peshawar; it changed the direction of the country,” said Durrani. “These families must be given all the prestige and respect which they deserve.”
Durrani, who is the wife of Shahbaz Sharif, said she was not there “as the wife of the Punjab chief minister but as the daughter of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.” Originally from Charsadda, she told the parents they must consider her as one of them.
A writer and social activist, Durrani said passes will be made for each affected family to avail free treatment at a hospital in Charsadda. She stated her intention to pressure the government into starting a pension system for parents of APS students who died and those who are injured. “Parents should not feel they lost their support, their future, with the loss of their children.”
Plight of parents
Before Durrani’s press conference, the mothers of APS victims demanded the government initiate a judicial investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“What kind of government can’t even provide us security for our children?” questioned Andleeb Bibi. “The prime minister of the country remembered [the victims] after 50 days,” she said.
“We must be told why only the children of Peshawar are being brutally killed by those whose identities we do not even know,” added Andaleeb. “We will not let the blood of our children be spilled in vain—we will question every authority of the country for answers.”
The mothers told Durrani authorities visit the school and their houses and declare their children as “minor or major” injured even as parents remain unable to comprehend the trauma their children underwent.
The parents present at the venue said they did not need financial incentives but they had a right to know their enemies who killed innocent children.
16/12
“This was been highest sacrifice offered by the people of Pakistan,” said Durrani, “The date 16/12 has changed Pakistan, today we are united over the eradication of militancy from the country,” said the writer.
“Your children have changed the country’s direction and will be given all the honour and respect by the people of Pakistan.”
Commenting on the results of investigation and probes, Durrani questioned, “What will be the outcome of the judicial enquiry? At the end of the day we will just be told it was security lapse.”
Everyone is already aware that this was a failure on part of the government or the army, she stated. The lack of security at the school resulted in this tragedy, she said.
Durrani told parents she would help raise their issues in order to get them their rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2015.
Though the attack on Army Public School (APS) was a huge security lapse, the government will now help victims’ parents get their rights. This was stated by Tehmina Durrani who was addressing parents of victims and survivors of the tragedy at a private venue in Gulbahar on Tuesday.
Durrani announced plans to construct houses in the name of each and every child who died in the school massacre on December 16 as well as Hangu hero Aitzaz Hasan. “It will be called Shuhada Colony; I plan to get this project approved from either the federal or provincial government within 15 days.” Durrani did not disclose the location or the number of houses in the works.
“Such a huge sacrifice has been offered by the people of Peshawar; it changed the direction of the country,” said Durrani. “These families must be given all the prestige and respect which they deserve.”
Durrani, who is the wife of Shahbaz Sharif, said she was not there “as the wife of the Punjab chief minister but as the daughter of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.” Originally from Charsadda, she told the parents they must consider her as one of them.
A writer and social activist, Durrani said passes will be made for each affected family to avail free treatment at a hospital in Charsadda. She stated her intention to pressure the government into starting a pension system for parents of APS students who died and those who are injured. “Parents should not feel they lost their support, their future, with the loss of their children.”
Plight of parents
Before Durrani’s press conference, the mothers of APS victims demanded the government initiate a judicial investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“What kind of government can’t even provide us security for our children?” questioned Andleeb Bibi. “The prime minister of the country remembered [the victims] after 50 days,” she said.
“We must be told why only the children of Peshawar are being brutally killed by those whose identities we do not even know,” added Andaleeb. “We will not let the blood of our children be spilled in vain—we will question every authority of the country for answers.”
The mothers told Durrani authorities visit the school and their houses and declare their children as “minor or major” injured even as parents remain unable to comprehend the trauma their children underwent.
The parents present at the venue said they did not need financial incentives but they had a right to know their enemies who killed innocent children.
16/12
“This was been highest sacrifice offered by the people of Pakistan,” said Durrani, “The date 16/12 has changed Pakistan, today we are united over the eradication of militancy from the country,” said the writer.
“Your children have changed the country’s direction and will be given all the honour and respect by the people of Pakistan.”
Commenting on the results of investigation and probes, Durrani questioned, “What will be the outcome of the judicial enquiry? At the end of the day we will just be told it was security lapse.”
Everyone is already aware that this was a failure on part of the government or the army, she stated. The lack of security at the school resulted in this tragedy, she said.
Durrani told parents she would help raise their issues in order to get them their rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2015.