PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Thursday observed seventh anniversary of the tragic incident of terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in which one hundred forty-seven people, including students and teachers were martyred.
It is pertinent to mention here that on December 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had stormed the School and martyred one hundred and forty-seven students and teachers.
The deadliest attack in Pakistan’s history, the carnage prompted the government to declare an all-out war against terrorist outfits. In the wake of the attack, military courts were set up for trying terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution and the Army Act.
The mastermind of the APS massacre, Umar Mansour, alias Khalifa Mansour, alias Umar Naray, was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.
Seven years on despite the counter-terrorism National Action Plan (NAP) that was chalked out days after the APS massacre and other security strategies educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa remain a relatively easy target for militants.
The massacre changed the perception of Pakistan against terrorism and people in the country raised voices for a uniformed action against all types of militants.
Following the attack, political parties and security departments formed a National Action Plan to stem extremism and terrorism.
Meanwhile, since the school attack, at least 1,584 terrorists were arrested and sent to jail. Apart from it, 167 high profile terrorists with head money were also detained or killed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his message on the seventh anniversary of Army Public School’s tragic incident, has urged the nation to stay firmly united against the elements trying to spread discord and prejudice on sectarian, religious and ethnic lines.
The Prime Minister said the nation should identify these elements in their ranks and help the state in eradicating them.
Imran Khan said time has proved that terrorism has no religion or nation rather it is a cowardly mindset that can even use children to fulfill their sordid designs.
Imran Khan said the sacrifices of martyrs of Army Public School have not gone in vain. He said following this despicable incident, Pakistani nation got united and confronted the menace with firm resolve. He said under the National Action Plan, the enemy was targeted and eliminated in their dens.
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