PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The first anniversary of brutal attack on Army Public School Peshawar is being observed in every nook and cranny of the country on Wednesday (December 16) with the firm resolve to completely root out terrorism.
The main function to mark the day is under way at the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Chief Ministers of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federal and Provincial Ministers besides top political leadership besides civil and military officers are attending the APS commemoration ceremony.
The Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashid Mehmood and Services Chief are also present on the occasion.
All the federal educational institutions are observing Martyrs of Army Public School Day, while public holiday has been declared in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Various organizations are holding functions including rallies, seminars, and symposia to pay homage to the martyrs.
Pakistanis living abroad are also observing the day and holding special functions.
In honour of the fallen souls, the prime minter has approved to rename 122 schools and colleges of the Islamabad Capital Territory after martyrs of Army Public School.
The government has also announced to rename 10 schools in Punjab while 5 in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) in the memory of the martyred students.
A ceremony will also be held in Ankara today to pay homage to the martyrs of Army Public School Peshawar.
Children from Pakistan Embassy School, Pakistani students studying in different Turkish universities, Pakistani and Turkish community and members of civil society will attend the ceremony.
On December 16, 2014, a group of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) linked terrorists attacked the army-run school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Capital and carried out the massacre of more than 140 persons mostly children. The incident triggered a worldwide strong condemnation and subsequently, Pakistan’s political and military leadership decided an increase in efforts to root out terrorism from the country.
