PESHAWAR: The parents and relatives of the victims of the Army Public School massacre observed a candle-light vigil and marched on a road here on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the incident here on Monday night.

The December 16, 2014 attack had left 147 persons, including 132 students, killed, and 180 others injured.

The parents and siblings of the martyred students and staff members assembled on the Shami Road and walked till the APS. They chanted slogans demanding justice for their slain children.

The parents also lit candles at the Shuhada Monument inside the APS and offered prayers for the martyred students and other victims of the horrific attack.

President of Shuhada APS Forum Ajoon Khan told Dawn that despite the lapse of 11 years of the incident, justice had not been done to the bereaved families.

He demanded of the authorities to award punishment to those who were advocating for resettlement of the terrorists, who were involved in the brutal killing of the schoolchildren. He demanded judicial inquiry into the tragedy.

He demanded that the report of the judicial commission, which probed the attack on the directives of the Supreme Court, should be shared with the parents.

Regarding the activities on the 11th anniversary, Ajoon Khan said the main function would be held at the APS campus in the morning while the parents would light candles on the Shuhada APS Monument at Archives Library on Sher Shah Suri Road. After offering prayers at the monument, they will also march towards Peshawar Press Club, he added.

Meanwhile, the educational institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will observe black day today (Tuesday) to commemorate the APS attack, one of the most painful incidents in Pakistan’s history, APP reported.

According to a notification issued by educational institutions’ management, students, teachers, and staff members would pay tribute to APS martyrs and express solidarity with their families.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025