SGF members will protest in the federal capital in mid-June. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Over five months have passed since Warsak Road’s Army Public School was stormed by armed militants who ruthlessly murdered as many as 151 students and school staffers. Since then, constitutional amendments have been inked and the country has meandered through different courses of action in order to put an end to the existing threat of militancy.
Back home in Peshawar, families who lost their loved ones to the carnage are yet to overcome the sense of helplessness that still encompasses their lives. At the same time, they have to struggle with the reality that their children’s killers remain unnamed – a demand they have made time and time again.
Bereaved parents have once again berated the government for its “all talk and no action”. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, members of the Shuhada Ghazi Forum said if justice is not served, they will be forced to launch protests in the federal capital in front of the National Assembly. “We were promised that those who were behind the murder of our children will be brought to justice and given exemplary punishments,” said Ajun Khan, the forum’s general secretary.
“We were assured heads will roll following the unforgivable security lapse and that investigation findings will be made public,” he said, adding their children are no more but they formed the platform to ensure no child ever goes through what their offspring did. “Every parent in the country should join us in our struggle.”
The forum’s general secretary added they have yet to understand what threat defenceless schoolchildren posed to the militants. “We will head to Islamabad in mid-June,” he added.
Left with no choice
Father of APS victim Sher Ali and the forum’s coordinator Tufail Khattak urged the government to form a judicial commission to conduct an enquiry. Khattak juxtaposed the federal government’s double standards in dealing with law and order in different parts of the country. “If joint investigation teams can be formed to investigate target killing in Karachi, then why not investigate the biggest terror attack in our history?” he questioned.
“PTI Chairman Imran Khan assured us that he will pursue our case and ensure it is adequately investigated but he is yet to fulfil his promises,” another bereaved parent Nasir Khan told The Express Tribune.
Nasir said the school attack opened the floodgates against militancy and the government was forced to formulate the National Action Plan. “Our sacrifices have given Pakistan a direction,” he said, adding all those who lost their lives in the APS assault should be declared national heroes.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2015.
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