ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A three-day mourning is being observed across the country from Wednesday over the tragic incident in Peshawar that claimed lives of over 100 innocent children.
At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed when a group of militants wearing uniform of Frontier Corps stormed an army public school on Wasrak road in Peshawar on Tuesday.
The call to observe the mourning was made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar on Tuesday.
The national flag will fly at half-mast on all government buildings across the country and Pakistan missions abroad.
The prayers for the victims of the Tuesday’s massacre will be offered in a number of educational institutions across the country.
Likewise, candlelight vigils, protests and mourning meetings are likely to take place in several parts of the country as well as in international capitals.
Shutter down strike being observed in Quetta
A shutter down strike is being observed in Quetta in condemnation and mourning of the attack in Peshawar.
The security has also been beefed up across the Balochistan’s provincial capital and entry points to the city are under strict surveillance.
Funeral prayers held at Peshawar Corps Headquarters
The funeral prayers for the Peshawar attack victims were held in absentia at the Peshawar Corps Headquarters on Wednesday morning.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaisar attended the funeral prayers.
The collective prayer was also offered for the departed souls.
Peshawar school massacre triggers worldwide condemnation
The militant attack at the army public school in Peshawar which also left 121 children and three staff members injured triggered a strong condemnation from around the world.
The US President Barack Obama and the US Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned the Pakistani premier and expressed grief over the gory incident of Peshawar on behalf of the American people.
Obama expressed grief over the Peshawar terror incident on behalf of the American people. He said that the United States stands by Pakistani people in this moment of sorrow.
John Kerry pledged that the US supports to the government and people of Pakistan will continue.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the attack as an act of horror on defenceless children. He expressed full UN support to the Pakistan government in its efforts to fight extremism and terrorism.
Also read: World cries over Army Public School Peshawar massacre
The leaders of the European Union, Iran, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, China and Canada have also sent separate messages of condolences to the Pakistani leadership over the tragic incident.
