Chehlum for APS victims: Parents protest against KP govt

Published January 20, 2015
People recite the Quran at the Chehlum - DawnNews screen grab
People recite the Quran at the Chehlum - DawnNews screen grab

PESHAWAR: Parents of children injured in the deadly massacre at the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar last month came out in protest outside the Chief Minister (CM) house on Tuesday, saying they were shunned by government officials when they inquired about the medical treatment of their children.

The parents had been invited to the chief minister house to observe the 40-day mark (Chehlum) of the deadly attack that took the lives of 132 children.

Parents say government officials pushed them aside and refused to listen to their complaints. The father of two boys injured in the attack, Muhammad Nawaz said he had intended to speak with the chief minister about his failure to send one of his sons abroad for treatment as promised, but the chief minister declined to respond.

He alleged that Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Shaukat Ali Yousafzai resorted to name-calling. About 15 to 20 parents left the memorial ceremony as lunch was served and gathered outside for the protest.

“Today the behaviour of the chief minister was very inappropriate, he pushed me away,” he told reporters outside the chief minister house.

The parents also expressed reservations against PTI members who they say bad-mouthed them on television shows on the day when Imran Khan visited APS Peshawar.

PTI representative Amjad Afridi apologised to the parents and said that it was against custom to disrespect guests.

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