PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Parents and relatives of the victims of the 2014 Army Public School (APS) massacre in Peshawar held a candlelight vigil and march on Monday night to mark the 11th anniversary of one of Pakistan’s deadliest terror attacks, renewing demands for justice and accountability.
Families of the slain students and staff gathered on Shami Road before walking to the APS campus, carrying candles in memory of their loved ones. Inside the school, parents lit candles at the Shuhada Monument.
They offered prayers for the victims of the December 16, 2014, attack, in which terrorists from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed 150 people, including 132 students and 15 staff members. More than 180 others were wounded.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister paid tribute to the victims of what he described as one of the darkest tragedies in the nation’s history, saying the sacrifices of the children, teachers and staff would remain an enduring part of Pakistan’s collective memory.
“The sacrifices of the innocent children, teachers, and staff will forever remain part of our national memory,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sahrif said, adding that the true justice for the martyrs lies in the complete eradication of terrorism from Pakistani soil.
The prime minister noted that while the attack had plunged the nation into grief, it had failed to weaken Pakistan’s resolve. He reaffirmed a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism, saying the state, security institutions, and the people remained united and determined to confront militancy and extremism until its complete elimination.
The APS attack prompted the launch of the National Action Plan (NAP) in January 2015, introducing a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic measures to combat terrorism, including the establishment of military courts for terror-related cases.
Noting a renewed wave of militant violence across parts of the country, including attacks on security personnel and civilians, the prime minister said the APS tragedy serves as a reminder that the fight against terrorism is not yet over. He said the state, security institutions, and the public remain united in confronting extremism.
The statement reiterated Pakistan’s policy of zero tolerance against terrorism, pledging sustained and decisive action until the last militant is eliminated. The prime minister said the sacrifices made for the country’s future would not be allowed to go in vain.
Eleven years on, December 16 remains both a day of mourning and a reminder of Pakistan’s enduring resolve to protect its children, defend education, and defeat terrorism in all its forms.
