Pakistan closes all schools on anniversary of Taliban school attack

Meanwhile, all the federal educational institutions observed Martyrs of Army Public School Day, while public holiday has been declared in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Pakistani families marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks which left 150 people dead, mostly school children.

She said, “We have to march forward for rooting out the menace of terrorism, adding: “We have to promote such education which should discourage attitudes like intolerance and extremism”.

The prime minister said that the major offensive against the militants has broken the backbone of terrorists and the day is not far when terrorism will be completely eliminated.

In his address, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resolved to weed out militant extremism, promising that: “We will take revenge for every drop of our children’s sacred blood”. The security forces under the leadership of General Raheel Sharif have achieved unprecedented success.

He also said he was “pained” as there were other countries which do not share the pain that Pakistan had undergone. It comes as a follow up to ISPR’s video from previous year soon after the attack, pouring scorn on those who target children to win their battles.

In the video released by the Pakistan army’s public relations wing, a child is shown seeking revenge against terrorists for the death of the innocent children who were brutally murdered in Peshawar’s Army Public School.

Parents who spoke to AFP said the government’s compensation efforts were useless.

NEW DELHI-As Pakistan marks the first year following the Peshawar attack, surviving school children, teachers and parents have been attempting to make the long journey back to normality.

Abdul Basit and others had gathered in the memory of students killed in APS Peshawar attack. “God willing, we will continue our education, move forward and avenge them”, Khan said.

However, some angry and distraught parents boycotted Wednesday’s ceremony in protest. Opposition leader Imran Khan was also in attendance. The PTI chief allowed them to speak on the stage. “Only a judicial commission can properly investigate the gory incident of APS”, he stressed. He said that action should be taken against those who were responsible for the security.

The horrific attack was claimed by the Taliban militants. He also said that the provincial and federal governments were not fulfilling their promises. “We only can pray and share your grief”, he told parents of the deceased.

Since then rights groups estimate nearly 300 inmates have been hanged, with eight going to the gallows in Punjab province on Dec 14.

Earlier, the ceremony held to commemorate the APS attack victims, began with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.