PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said the entire political and military leadership was united against terrorism and the people would see its outcome even within three days of mourning.

He was talking to reporters at the Chief Minister’s House here after offering funeral prayers in absentia of the Army Public School attack victims.

The funeral prayers was attended by PTI chairman Imran Khan, vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, secretary general Jehangir Tareen, provincial president Azam Swati, provincial secretary general Khalid Masood, provincial cabinet members, lawmakers and senior government officials.

The chief minister said the Peshawar school attack had jolted the entire country and spread a wave of gloom the world over.

Says nation seeks action against masterminds behind school attack

He said it was the unanimous demand of the nation to bring masterminds behind the attack to book and eradicate terrorism from the country for good.

Khattak said hundreds of innocent schoolchildren were killed by terrorists though no religion or civilisation allowed such a massacre.

He said the heinous crime had shattered the conscience of the international community.

The chief minister said his government had announced Rs0.5 million each for the deceased children and teachers and Rs0.2 million each for the injured but it felt that was no way the compensation for the precious lives lost in the attack and grief suffered by the families of the deceased.

He said the entire nation and world community shared grief of the aggrieved families.

Khattak said the national and provincial leadership would never keep silent on the barbaric acts of terrorism and would do something tangible to satisfy the people on the issue.

He thanked the people and the media for extending the ‘utmost support to the grieved families and provincial government in the hours of grief and mourning.’

The chief minister said the national flag would hoist half mast during the three days of mourning, while educational institutions would remain closed in the province.

He said there would be no official reception or jubilation in the province during the days of mourning.

Khattak said police and hospitals would remain on red alert.

He said besides pinpointing and addressing the unseen bottlenecks and weaknesses, not only would his government streamline security strategy but it would made it more foolproof as well.

PTI chief Imran Khan and other part leaders endorsed the chief minister’s announcements and the provincial government’s security measures.

Also in the day, Khattak attended the funeral prayers of the school violence victims in absentia at the Services Ground, where Army chief General Raheel Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014