As nations marks a decade since APS tragedy, leaders reaffirm resolve to root out terrorism – Pakistan

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As the nation marks the 10th anniversary of the 2014 attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, the country’s leaders on Monday reaffirmed their unwavering resolve to root out terrorism from Pakistan.

In the deadliest terror attack in the country’s history, 147 people, including 132 schoolchildren, were martyred when heavily armed militants stormed the APS building on Dec 16, 2014.

In response to the brutal incident, the government in January 2015 launched the National Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism, and then in 2021, decided to review it.

President Asif Ali Zardari today expressed the nation’s determination to root out the remains of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan.

He said the day of December 16 reminded the nation to get united against terrorism and increase efforts to eliminate this menace.

The president said the terrorists mercilessly killed “our citizens, including our children, adding the terrorists showed their animosity towards public by attacking teachers and children”.

“Attack on the children was cruel and against humanity,” he added.

President Zardari said the APS tragedy made it clear that the terrorists’ agenda was to create chaos and anarchy in the country. The day left imprints on the collective memory of the nation, he added.

Conveying his sympathies to the heirs of the children, he said incidents like the APS attack “exposed the real face of terrorists and khawarij”, asserting that the nation would not let the terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs.

Stating that the APS incident united the nation against terrorism, the president said the political leadership of Pakistan also sacrificed in the war against terrorism.

“Today, we pay tribute to the brave soldiers, security organisations and citizens for their sacrifices against terrorism. We will not let go in vain the sacrifices of our children, leaders and the citizens.”

However, he stressed, the international community has to “make collective efforts to eradicate terrorism”.

In his message on the APS attack anniversary, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed that the entire nation was “standing as a wall of fortified steel against the coward terrorists” and would not forget the incident.

Noting that 10 years had passed since the unforgettable tragedy and loss of lives at APS, the premier said, “Our heart is still in grief and we are shedding tears of blood.”

Calling the terrorists “coward, cruel and barbaric,”, PM Shehbaz said they caused “death and destruction”.

He highlighted that the children’s “lives, dreams, hopes and futures were taken away from them”, adding: “We cannot forget the loss of these children despite the passage of all this time.”

The prime minister said the martyred children faced unprecedented barbarism and cruelty. The pain of the families and parents whose loved ones and children were taken away from them, could not be mitigated, he added.

PM Shehbaz said the nation should keep in mind that the fitna of terrorists and anti-state elements had nothing to do with religion or social values. The terrorists targeted innocent Pakistanis to achieve goals at the behest of enemies of the country, he added.

He said the entire nation saluted the bravery of the teachers and children and paid tribute to the courage of the security forces personnel, who were tackling the anti-state elements with steadfastness and determination.

“Let us reiterate our determination to create a peaceful and secure country where no innocent faces any barbarity and cruelty, no child goes to school in fear, and all perpetrators are given exemplary punishment for their crimes.

“We have to make a collective pledge and we owe it to the martyrs and affectees of this tragedy that their sacrifices will not be in vain. We will not forget and we will not forgive,” the prime minister asserted.

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