Moalims

HYDERABAD: The first anniversary of the Army Public School, Peshawar, carnage was observed across Sindh where Quran Khwani, candle-lit vigils, seminars, tableaux, rallies and demonstrations were held in almost all cities and towns on Wednesday.

Most ceremonies and other programmes were held at educational institutions while student organisations, teachers’ associations, business and trade bodies as well as the police department organised various events to remember and pay homage to those who lost their lives in the Dec 16, 2014 attack.

In Hyderabad, a programme was held at the district police headquarters where teachers and students of the Police Headquarters School and their relatives recited the Holy Quran, offered Fateha and paid homage to the victims.

Hyderabad DIG Khadim Hussain Rind and SSP Irfan Baloch spoke at the programme and renewed their resolve to combat terrorism with full force along with the armed forces.

A separate ceremony was held late on Tuesday evening where police officers and their subordinates along with their children held a candle-lit vigil.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Noorani leader Dr Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair addressed a programme organised by the party to remember the APS carnage victims and discuss the East Pakistan debacle. “Both tragedies give us the message that agents of our enemies are at work posing a serious threat to the country’s integrity,” he noted. He stressed the need for unity to counter the threat.

In Larkana, homage was paid to the APS victims by people from all walks of life attending a programme at the local press club.

The Larkana commissioner, DIG and other police officers, office-bearers of the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan Medical Association, the vice chancellor, faculty and students of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University and Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital, activists of various non-governmental organisations, besides students of various schools turned up to attend the programme.

Amidst touching scenes, many of the participants along with little children laid wreaths near a portrait with photographs of the martyred APS students.

Children also presented tableaux, played the national anthem and songs and the new song released by the ISPR, Mujhe dushman ke bachon ko parhana hai.

In their speeches, Commissioner Ghulam Akbar Leghari and DIG Dr Sain Rakhio Mirani said the barbaric act of terrorists had given a new impetus to our determination to eliminate terrorism and terrorists. They said the nation was united to do everything possible to secure the life and future of its citizens, especially children. Everyone present there saluted the APS victims and resolved to defeat evil forces with unity.

In Mirpurkhas, scores of members of civil society organisations led by Lala Rajput and Prem Rathor took out a rally and converged on Mohammadi Chowk in Digri town to attend a ceremony to remember the victims.

Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against terrorists and expressed their full support to the Operation Zarb-i-Azb. They also held a candle-lit vigil and offered Fateha for the victims.

The Mirpurkhas District Bar Association also held a programme at the sessions court to pay homage to the APS carnage victims.

People of Badin took park in various events including Quran Khwani, rallies and walks held in different towns of the district to pay homage to the APS victims.

Similar events were held in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Dahli, Nagarparkar, Chhachhro, Kaloi and other towns of Tharparkar district.Sindh Education Movement’s women wing organised a programme in Naushahro Feroze to pay homage to the APS victims.

In Umerkot, students of various schools and activists of civil society organisations held a candle-lit vigil at the local press club.

Speakers at the event paid homage to the victims and resolved to join the fight against terrorism and extend full support to the army in its anti-terror operation. They noted that this particular attack was targeted against education, and vowed to promote education in revenge.

Ms Rabail, Ms Hina, Ms Nida and others spoke to the participants and paid homage to the victims. They also appreciated the courage and patience of the students’ parents for their bold stance against terrorism and joining hands with the army to defeat the evil forces.

Many schools, including the Bahria Foundation College, Mahrabpur, held Quran Khwani, ceremonies and other programmes to remember the APS victims.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2015