PESHAWAR: Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has said that the nation and the armed forces stand with the families of the children who lost their lives in last year’s terrorist attack on the Army Public School and acknowledge their sacrifice.

Accompanied by his wife, he arrived here on Wednesday to express solidarity with the parents of the children. The COAS also hosted an Iftar diner at the 11 Corps Headquarters.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Raheel met each affected family and expressed sorrow and solidarity with them. He paid tribute to the students and teachers who either lost their lives or suffered injuries in the terrorist attack.

Militants stormed the school on Dec 16, 2014, killing 150 students and teachers and injuring over 100. Several injured children injured are still under treatment.

After the shocking incident, the government worked out the National Action Plan to wipe out terrorism and extremism from the country.

Gen Raheel said: “The sacrifice of young martyrs has united the nation. The tragic incident cannot be forgotten. No religion and society allows such a heinous act. The terrorists who killed the innocent schoolchildren have no religion.”

He said that most of the terrorists involved in the attack had met their fate. The army operation would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated.

Published in Dawn ,July 16th, 2015

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