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

In the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history, 147 people, including 132 schoolchildren, were killed. martyr when heavily armed militants stormed the APS building on December 16, 2014.

In response to this brutal incident, the government decided in January 2015 spear the National Action Plan (PAN) — introducing a series of kinetic and non-kinetic measures measures to fight terrorism, one of them being the decision to try terrorists before military courts. In 2021, the PTI-led government decided to review the PAN.

Learn more: Special Report: Army Public School Massacre – 10 Years Later

A report of the judicial commission submitted to the Supreme Court in 2020 highlighted the delayed response to the terrorist attack, while acknowledging that further devastation was foiled by the Mobile Vigilance Team-2 (MVT) and the Quick Response Force (QRF).

The commission also made certain recommendations, including medical and psychological treatment of the injured and relatives of the martyrs, as well as the provision of free education to the injured and siblings of the martyred students.

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

He said December 16 reminded the nation to unite against terrorism and intensify efforts to eliminate the menace.

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

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

President Zardari said the APS tragedy clearly showed that the aim of terrorists was to create chaos and anarchy in the country. This day left traces in the collective memory of the nation, he added.

Conveying his condolences to the children’s heirs, he said incidents like the APS attack “revealed the true face of terrorists and khawarij“, affirming that the nation would not let terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs.

Stating that the APS incident united the nation against terrorism, the President said that political leaders of Pakistan have also made sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

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

However, he stressed, the international community must “deploy collective efforts to eradicate terrorism”.

In his message On the anniversary of the APS attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the entire nation “stood like a fortified wall of steel against the cowardly terrorists” and would not forget the incident.

Noting that 10 years had passed since the unforgettable tragedy and loss of life at APS, the Prime Minister said: “Our hearts are still in sorrow and we are shedding tears of blood.”

Calling the terrorists “cowardly, cruel and barbaric”, Prime Minister Shehbaz said they had caused “death and destruction”.

He stressed that “the children’s lives, dreams, hopes and future have been taken away from them”, adding: “We cannot forget the loss of these children despite all this time.”

The Prime Minister said the child martyrs were facing unprecedented barbarity and cruelty. The pain of families and parents whose loved ones and children have been taken from them cannot be eased, he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the nation should keep in mind that the fitnah The presence of terrorists and anti-state elements has nothing to do with religion or social values. The terrorists targeted innocent Pakistanis to achieve goals at the behest of the country’s enemies, he added.

He said the entire nation saluted the courage of the teachers and children and paid tribute to the courage of the security force personnel, who tackled the anti-state elements with firmness and determination.

“Let us reiterate our determination to create a peaceful and secure country where no innocent person will face barbarity and cruelty, where no child will go to school in fear and where all perpetrators of crimes will receive exemplary punishment for their crimes.

“We must make a collective commitment and we owe it to the martyrs and victims of this tragedy that their sacrifices will not be in vain. We will not forget and we will not forgive,” said the Prime Minister.

According to Radio Pakistanspecial prayers and Quran recitations are held today for the martyred APS students and teachers.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education department organized special functions to commemorate the incident.

APS carnage shook national conscience (Bilawal)

In a statementhe said: “The APS carnage remains one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan’s history, a tragedy that shook the conscience of the nation and united us against the menace of terrorism.

The former foreign minister called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of the NAP to avoid such tragedies in the future, stressing the need to address the root causes of the NAP. radicalization through education, economic opportunities and social harmony.

“On this deeply painful day, let us honor the memory of the APS martyrs by renewing our commitment to fight for a Pakistan free of terrorism, where every child can dream without fear and realize their potential,” he concluded.