SWABI: The local administration will build a memorial at the district headquarters to those killed by terrorists at Army Public School Peshawar on Dec 16 last year.

“We’ve planned to erect a memorial to the APS attack victims near the Peshawar Electric Supply Company offices.

Its construction will begin shortly,” tehsil municipal officer Mian Shafiqur Rehman told a function organised here to remember over the APS attack victims, mostly schoolchildren.

During the function, parents of four slain schoolchildren, who belonged to the district, MPA Babar Salim, deputy commissioner Matiullah Khan and ASP Mumtaz Manika were in attendance.

While paying tribute to APS students and teachers, the speakers praised parents of the attack victims.

They eulogised the school principal for laying down life for protecting schoolchildren.

“The name of the principal, Tahira Qazi, will be long remembered for valor and great sacrifice,” said a speaker.

Other speakers said children were the future of every country and that targeting them by terrorists was meant to harm the country’s future.

They said the school attack had forged unity among the nation, which was committed to eradicating terrorism from the country.

MPA Babar said the nation would always remember the attack victims for sacrificing their lives for the country and its future. “We salute young souls for forging unity among the people by laying down their lives,” he said.

Parents of the students said they were ready for more sacrifices for the motherland. Later, they were given shields.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play