Govt to confer gallantry awards on APS martyrs
PM advises president to approve Sitara-e-Shujaat and Tamgha-e-Shujaat
PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM
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 4th, 2015.
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 4th, 2015.