ISLAMABAD: Remembering the martyrs of the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack, the political and military leaderships of the country vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.

In their messages on the fourth anniversary of the gruesome attack on Sunday, President, Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tribute to 144 students and staff members of the APS.

In his message, President Alvi said that the APS incident was a national tragedy, adding that on its anniversary the nation should vow to continue fighting against forces inimical to the country.

PM Khan said in his message that Pakistan had paid a big price for the world’s war on terror.

While paying tribute to members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, he acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by ordinary people. “We want to make it clear to those who even today criticise Pakistan that in this global war, massive price has been borne by our armed forces, soldiers, citizens and innocent people.”

Later in a Twitter message, the prime minister said: “Today as we remember & pray for the survivors and the victims’ families, esp the parents, of the Peshawar APS terrorist attack, my government commits itself to fully implementing NAP to rid Pak of all forms of terrorism, violence & hatred.”

The foreign minister said the fateful day of the APS attack continued to remain a scar on the collective memory of the nation.

The opposition leader said in his message: “A new chapter of brutality was written by killing innocent school children and therefore today is day of solidarity against terrorists.”

Gen Bajwa paid rich tribute to the martyrs of APS.

On his official Twitter account, Inter Services Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor quoted the army chief as saying that the nation faced challenges at a heavy cost to come out successfully.

Vowing to move the country forward to its rightful destination of peace and prosperity, Gen Bajwa said the nation remembered and prayed for the APS martyrs. He saluted the brave parents. “We stay united & steadfast to carry forward Pakistan to its rightful destination of peace & prosperity. We have to move forward, (Insha Allah),” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2018