Prayers for peace: Families directly affected by APS massacre complete Umrah

Over 1,000 people sent to Saudi Arabia by Pak Army

PESHAWAR: The process of sending families of slain Army Public School students to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia has been completed. Around 1,000 people, including parents of victims, injured students and their parents, were sent to perform the pilgrimage after being sponsored by the Pakistan Army.

On December 16, 2014, Taliban targeted APS Peshawar which resulted in over 150 deaths, most of the victims schoolchildren. After the brutal incident, the government and Pakistan Army not only stepped up security arrangements at schools, but also arranged foreign trips for survivors to help them overcome the trauma. The Pakistan Army announced an Umrah package for the affected families and made all the necessary arrangements.

Talking to The Express Tribune, APS Shuhada and Ghazi Forum Spokesperson Tufail Khattak said they were thankful to the Pakistan Army for this opportunity. Khattak said parents of martyred APS students, along with other family members, and injured students and their parents were chosen to go to Saudi Arabia for the purpose. In addition, families of 20 staff members who were killed in the terrorist assault were included in the Army-sponsored programme.

He said the first batch of students and parents left for Saudi Arabia on March 7 and all families had completed their pilgrimage by May 4.

Khattak said senior Pakistan Army officials supported them at every stage.

Foreign tours

He added two groups of APS students had already visited China and preparation for the remaining students’ trips to Turkey and Egypt has been completed. He revealed the group for Turkey is set to depart on May 14.

Khattak asked the Pakistan Army and the government to not abandon these affected families at any stage.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2015.