Govt to confer gallantry awards on APS martyrs

PM advises president to approve Sitara-e-Shujaat and Tamgha-e-Shujaat

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has advised President Mamnoon Hussian to approve conferment of top civil awards on the students and staff killed in last year’s terrorist attack at a military-run school in Peshawar.

Over 150 students and staff were killed in the deadly rampage at the Army Public School in Peshawar on Dec 16 that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed was carried out by its fighters. The methodical killings of the schoolchildren had led to an overhaul of the country’s counter-terrorism strategy.

“The decision has been taken to pay homage to the 122 students, two teachers and 20 staff of the school who were martyred in [the] terrorist attack on December 16, 2014,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House on Tuesday. The victims will be awarded Sitara-e-Shujaat and Tamgha-e-Shujaat.

There was a mixed reaction to the government decision from the heirs of the victims. Ajoon Khan, who lost 16-year-old daughter Asfan Khan in the attack, said the parents of the APS martyrs had demanded Nishan-e-Haidar – the highest military award – for their children.

“The Shuhada Forum had demanded that the martyred students must be awarded Nishan-e-Haidar, but the government has announced Tamgha-e-Shujaat and Sitara-e-Shujaat. We will give our final statement on this after a meeting of the forum,” said Khan of the Shuhada Forum formed by the bereaved parents following the attack.

However, Tufail Khattak, who lost 15-year-old son Sher Shah in the attack, did not agree with Khan. Nishan-e-Haidar is a military decoration and the government would have to amend the Constitution to confer this award on a civilian, he said. “We are willing to receive Sitara-e-Shujaat or Tamgha-e-Shujaat as it is a great honour.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2015.