Pakistan's PM, politicians and celebrities pay tribute to victims of APS attack
- 16 Dec 2021
Tariq Butt, Correspondent
As Pakistan marked the seventh anniversary of the Peshawar Army Public School (APS) carnage on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the country has successfully defeated terrorism and vowed to never let down the survivors and parents of those martyred in the tragic incident.
Pakistan's politicians, celebrities are netizens also remembered the lives lost on the seventh anniversary of the APS attack.
In the deadliest terror attack in the country’s history, 131 schoolchildren and 10 other people were martyred when heavily armed militants stormed the school building on Dec.16, 2014. The attack had shocked the entire nation as terrorists stormed inside the school and fired at children who were attending classes at the time.
The commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Umer Mansoor alias Umer Narae, had claimed responsibility for the APS carnage. The US government and Pakistan army later confirmed that Umar was killed in a US drone strike in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on July 9, 2016.
Recalling one of the darkest days in Pakistan history, the prime minister said in a tweet that there will be "zero tolerance for violence and those using it as a tool."
Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif called it a painful day for the nation and asked: "Have we learned any lessons and corrected our course?"
"When will we sincerely put our heads together for a better future for our children? There are too many questions but too few answers," he said in a tweet.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the nation still felt the pain of "this great tragedy", adding that "everyone is still waiting for justice to be served to the innocent souls."
Columnist and writer Fatima Bhutto said the victims are forever in our hearts.
Many celebrities shared their thoughts in the form of tweets and Instagram stories.
Cricket star Shadab Khan said he was "praying for peace and justice," hoping that the country never goes through something like this again.
Singer Hadiqa Kiani shared a picture and reminded her followers that the country will never forget the attack.
Superstar actor Bilal Ashraf shared a rather heartbreaking illustration of a school van next to an ambulance to remember the attack.
Former captain of Pakistan national women's cricket team Sana Mir reminded everyone that the incident is more than "just a hashtag."
Singer Asim Azhar also shared a memorial photo on his Instagram Stories and said his heart still bleeds.
Actor Faysal Quraishi tweeted that he will never be able to forget December 16.
Actor Minal Khan shared a post with a sketch of the uniforms worn by the students of APS in tribute.
Cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi also tweeted and said the "smallest coffins are the heaviest."
