Muhammad Irshad Ullah
PESHAWAR: The 11th anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar, which claimed the lives of more than 140 people mostly school children, is being observed on Saturday on Monday.
Parents and family members of the martyrs gathered at the APS memorial outside the Archives Library in Peshawar to pay tribute to their loved ones. They recited the Holy Quran, offered prayers and lit candles in memory of the young martyrs.
On December 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with ban organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed Army Public School, brutally killing 147 students and teachers in one of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan’s history. The massacre shocked the entire nation and prompted the government to launch an all-out war against terrorism.
In the aftermath of the attack, the government introduced the National Action Plan (NAP) to curb extremism and terrorism. Military courts were established through constitutional amendments to ensure speedy trials of hardcore terrorists. The mastermind of the APS massacre, Umar Mansour alias Khalifa Mansour, was later killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.
Despite these measures, educational institutions particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are still considered vulnerable targets. Families of the martyrs continue to question whether enough has been done to ensure justice and accountability.
Professor Iqbal of Islamia College Peshawar said that the APS tragedy marked a turning point for the city.
“Safety and security of children must be a top priority so that students can perform better. The security arrangements at schools are commendable now, but it will take time for things to return to normal,” he said.
He added that parents sending their children to schools today reflects trust in the improved security environment.
However, many parents of the slain children are still demanding answers. They believe the attack could have been prevented and continue to seek a full judicial inquiry. They complain that no government, security, or military officials have been publicly held accountable for the security failure.
Mrs. Shahana, who lost her son in the attack, said remembering December 16 remains unbearable.
“We cry every day after seeing the pictures of our son Asfand. Every time December comes, we fall into deep grief. We have not seen happiness in the last nin years,” she said.
“I wish my son had not gone to school that day. He would be alive today.”
A judicial commission was finally formed more than three years after the attack. Its 525-page report, submitted to the Supreme Court in July 2020, highlighted serious security lapses and termed the assistance provided to terrorists by some locals as “unpardonable.”
Falak Naz, mother of two martyred students, told ChitralToday that families are still waiting for justice.
“We want to present our grievances to the concerned high-ups. We have been waiting for justice for the past nine years, but unfortunately no one has done anything for us,” she said.
She also reiterated the families’ demand for declaring December 16 a public holiday, adding that despite repeated promises, the demand remains unmet.
11 years later, the pain of APS Peshawar remains fresh, and the families of the martyrs continue to ask a haunting question: Have we truly learned from this tragedy?
