Peshawar (Online): Pakistan Government has decided to shut all educational institutions today (Friday) due to security reasons in provincial capital in view of anniversary of Army Public School (APS) terror attack of 16th December 2014.
This public holiday was declared to share the grief of relatives of fatalities of worst terror attack at APS which claimed more than 142 lives mostly young students.
On Thursday, the Peshawar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shahid Mehmood issue notice of Friday public holiday. In the wake of Second anniversary of APS terror attack and current security situation, all the schools, colleges and universities (Government & Private) in District Peshawar will remain closed on Friday, a statement reads.
Pakistan responded to the attacks by lifting its moratorium on death penalty, intensifying the War in North-West Pakistan and authorizing military courts to try civilians through a constitutional amendment. On December 2, 2015, Pakistan hanged four militants involved in the Peshawar massacre, whereas the mastermind of the attack, Omer Khorasani, was killed in a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan on 9 July 2016.
The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan upheld the death sentences of two other terrorists.
The 16th December, 2014 was horrible day in the history of Peshawar because seven foreign national militants affiliated with TTP conducted a terrorist attack on the APS in Peshawar
All foreign national militants, including one Chechen, three Arabs and two Afghans, entered the school and opened fire on school and children killing 141 people, including 132 schoolchildren, ranging between eight and 18 years of age.
A rescue operation was launched by the Pakistan Army's Special Services Group (SSG), who killed all seven terrorists and rescued 960 children and staff.
Chairman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) have rendered immense sacrifices for a great cause which would have no parallel in the annals of the world.
He said that sacrifices of APS students had vindicated the reality that even the worst oppression could not defeat a nation.
Sherpao castigated the terrorists for having targeted the innocent children and teachers through savage but their nefarious designs had failed to create fissures in our society.
He maintained that the meritorious sacrifices had forged unity in the whole nation which was instrumental in the National Action Plan. He said that the horrible carnage of APS had brought national leadership on single platform and the country got international support.
On the other hand, he regretted that the opportunity could not be properly utilized for the eradication of extremism and terrorist. He deplored that NAP was not implemented in letter and spirit so as to remove the hazardous clouds from national atmosphere.
QWP chairman deplored that Pakhtun had rendered untold human and material sacrifices however; they had not been provided any relief which aggravated their sense of deprivation. He said that NAP should be truly enforced and should be made dynamic and proactive documents to serve the needs of the country.