The last call to duty

PESHAWAR - On the morning of 16th December 2014, armed terrorists in military uniform scaled wall of the Army Public School Peshawar and attacked the students. Everyone who came in their way was shot and brutally killed but the school left many undying stories of human courage and valour, one such story is of the sacrifice of Principal Ms. Tahira Qazi.

A number of stories about her death have circulated on various forums, the media and narrated by word of mouth, and each version is different from the first. To clarify the rumors about this incident, the Nation talked to Ahmad Qazi the grown up son of Ms. Tahira Qazi working for a humanitarian organization in Peshawar, who narrated the actual happenings of that fateful day.

He said, “She (Mrs. Qazi) was in the hall when they (Taliban) attacked, she managed to come out to look at other children. That was the first time when she could have escaped the building. But she went around the class rooms and raised alarms calling the students and teachers to stay in their places and the teachers to lock the classes from inside. She found some kids running around trying to save their lives who she managed to gather under a staircase with the section head of the School Wing, and asked her to take the kids out from the back door. As she was leaving to go back inside the hall, the Head asked where she was going. She said to save the other children.”

Ahmed said, “That was the second time she had the option of leaving but still she was determined to save the children. She heard firing from the College Wing Admin block side, and again raised the alarm and asked the kids to stay put.”

By then the Army had reached the school and she was asked to leave the premises as she had done all she could, however she replied there were many kids still in the school and she could not leave them. As soon as she reached the Admin Block she was confronted by the terrorists who asked her about the kids, she replied, “You can take my mobile, money and everything but leave the kids.” He said, “We want the kids,” on which she exclaimed, “Talk to me I am their mother.” Those were her last words as the terrorist shot her in the head and she died on the spot. A short while later there was an explosion (probably one of the terrorists blew himself up then) which hit her body from the back and burnt her. Apart from that burn and head injury her body was intact.”

Talking of the support that the family has received from Government and Army he said, “The army has stood up for us and they have shown they mean business. They have shown that they will not allow anyone to do this to the kids of the nation. Apart from that I want to see the Government to work on core issues, especially education as my mother was an eduationist and this was very close to her heart.” He got emotional and added, “People say that it’s a military failure, but to me it’s a governance failure.”

On the life of survivors of the APS carnage he said, “Students need to get back to life, they need to be encouraged to move forward. Instead of asking them about that day and about the kids who died, they should stop taking them back in the past.”

He feels that it is rather early to speak about the results of the National Action Plan against Terrorism, adding, “The military has shown its seriousness (in this regard), but the Government still has to work seriously. They are lacking in a number of things, until they put their act together nothing positive will come out of NAP.”

When asked about what results of hanging the culprits involved in APS attack, he said, “Hanging these people will not make any difference. These people are not the terrorists but the ideology that they follow is. It is the ideology that needs to be countered. We need to understand why people have been exposed to this ideology. That is something we have to root out of our system.” He is of the opinion that we need a new narrative to offset the terrorists’ narrative so that we can prevent youth and others from being radicalized to the extent of becoming terrorists, and for this all organs of governance have to play their role.

About how life has changed for his family after the incident Ahmed said, “My mother was running the show in the house; I was least concerned about anything in life apart from my own needs. She had time for everyone despite her busy schedule. Now I have to do everything (for) myself and look after my (sick) brother and father along with my job. The whole family was shattered but my father was hit the most, as he was very close to her.”

On his memory of his mother, he fondly recalled that on the morning of 16 December he met her at breakfast and hugged her before she left for school and since she was not very much into such display of affection, and I was being naughty with her she lovingly beat me up and said stop this childish behavior. He wished that that morning could come back. She was a wonderful person, and was always concerned about her students. She would stay back in school till all students had left and if a student had to stay back due to conveyance issue she would send them home in her own car. That day (16/12) even during the attack, she told one of the teachers that she would leave the school once all the students were out safely. Ironically hers was the last body to come out of the school that day and that too when the operation had concluded.”

Ahmed said that he hoped that this conversation with the Nation would put to rest the various stories about Mrs. Tahira Qazi’s last day and the media and other people would let her soul rest in peace and let the family have closure without having to content with hurtful rumors.

This article was published in The Nation on 16 Dec 2015

Bargad urges ‘unity for peace’

Bargad – a non-government organisation (NGO) working on youth development, Government College University Lahore and Punjab government jointly held a seminar titled “Unite for Peace,” at Government College University Lahore on December 14, 2015. The purpose of the seminar was two-fold, one to remember the martyrs of the Peshawar Attack and two reviewing the implementation of the National Action Plan. It aimed to spread hope for a better future where the public needs to unite for peace to never let such heinous tragedies be repeated. The welcome note was given by VC GCU –ProfDr. Hassan Amir Shah; he welcomed the audience and spoke about the reason of the seminar – rememberingthe lives lost in the Peshawar Attack and ensuring support for the National Action Plan.

Mr. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Punjab Minister for Education and Youth Affairs was the Chief Guest, who in his address paid tributes to the Shuhada of the APS Peshawar Attack and stressed the importance of National Action Plan’s implementation in order for December 16, 2014 to be never repeated. Rana Mashhood also spoke about the achievements of PML(N) and Punjab Government in the education sector. He said, “Our aim is to invest in our youth. Why should you go abroad to gain quality education, it’s our duty to provide proper education. Punjab Government has kept 27 % of the budget for the education only to brighten the future of our children.” He spoke about unified education system, and said that religious extremism should be banned from educational institutes. Rana Mashhood also added that the Punjab Government is making efforts to send kids abroad on scholarships.

A panel discussion on “A Review and Analysis of National Action Plan and its Outcomes”chaired by Ms. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Punjab Minister for Finance with Prof Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin, Chairman HEC Punjab; I.A.Rehman, Senior Journalist; and Amir Riaz, Researcher, Writer and Publisher had an in-depth discussion on the subject.

The panel gave recommendations for the better implementation of the NAP. The audience also gave their input which were: curriculum revision,improve education system implementation of one system across the board.Policy formulation to be all inclusive activity to incorporate youth voices and have specialrepresentation from the tribal areas for it to be useful, as tribal areas have specific needs that need to be incorporated in the curricula. Investment is needed to bring youth forward and give them a platform like this seminar to voice their concerns. Dr.Nizamuddin stressed on the need to incorporate Quaid’s Speech of 11th August, the Constitution and The Holy Prophet (PBUH) last sermon in syllabi to counter and eventually eliminate extremism.

The event concluded with the performance of Laal Band, Taimur Rehman and Mahwish Taimur sung songs of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib, the students were highly charged listening to the music of these revolutionary poets.

Signature Campaign:

Bargad launched a signature campaign against extremismin colleges and universities. The campaign, which started last Monday, ended today at Government College University. The campaign has managed to gather 5,000 signatures in support of NAP. The signatures were presented to the government officials at the seminar.Students enthusiastically participated in the campaign to sign the following resolution, “We solemnly vow to stand up against violent extremism in Pakistan. We vow to never let 16th December 2014 be repeated. We condemn this heinous tragedy and extend our full support to the government’s efforts being made under the National Action Plan to avoid such atrocities in the future.” Ten universities and colleges of Lahore participated in the campaign.

The Executive Director of Bargad Ms. Sabiha Shaheen said “The first anniversary of the APS Peshawar attack is approaching and it’s an opportunity for everyone to get together and look back at how and why we suffered, what we have lost, what we have gained; and look ahead to see where we want our nation to be and what needs to be done to eventually get there.”

VIGIL:

As the first anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar terrorist attack draws near, Bargad – a non-government organisation (NGO) working on youth development – and the Punjab government organized a candle light vigil on Sunday, December 13, 2015 in Lahore to honour the lives lost in the APS Peshawar Attack. Around 100 people attended the event at the Liberty Market Roundabout.  Participants at the vigil included students of Lahore including from FCC University, Punjab University, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and FAST. A number of families were also present to share their feelings and a prayer was offered that nothing like this every happened again.

Candles were lit; a board was set up where people could write their messages for the APS kids. After the candle vigil Fateha was offered for those killed in the attack. A parent said, “This incident has scared the day lights out of us, we are always on our toes when children are in school.” A student from Punjab University said, “I could not believe it that these terrorists are scared of kids. They are cowards. They should be given exemplary punishments and be hung on roads for the world to see.”

This article was published in The Nation on 16 Dec 2015

‘Azaad Pakistan’ honoring APS sacrifices

To honor the sacrifices of the students, teachers and staff of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar, a group of students have come together as “Azaad Pakistan” forum and they are asking students and people from all walks of life to write letters to APS with the aim to convey the APS survivors a message of hope, solidarity and prayers.

Azaad Pakistan is working hard to collect letters in person and on E-mail from people across the globe,on their id“letterstopeshawar@outlook.com”on social media so people can send their messages for the brave children of Army Public School. About 400 letters have been received so far and the number increases by the day. They plan to get the last letters by the 24th December 2015 after which these would be sent to ISPR for onward dispatch to APS .

While speaking to The Nation Harris Bin Saqib, a student of NUST and a volunteer of Azaad Pakistan said, “After 16 December, everyone wanted to give one message to the terrorists, that (is that) we are not afraid. Since then people have been very vocal and stood by the children of APS . Theseletters would tell the students that the nation stands with them even after a year.” Harris further said, “As the dark day in the history of Pakistan is approaching, the air is filled with depression and everyone wants to help the children in every way possible, so we thought this was a good way to reachout to them. Our aim is to bring smiles back on their faces.”

Azaad Pakistan is run byGhalib Khalil a student of Beaconhouse National University who has been running this group for the last three years, and has organized various activities across Pakistan. While speaking to The Nation he said,“When the incident happened last year, we sent letters to APS to show our solidarity. So, we planned of doing it again as this was the best way to communicate with the children. They have gone through a lot which has affected their studies, personalities and life. These letters would tell them that they are not alone and people are standing with them.” He further added, that all those who are writing these letters should not remind them of that horrific day as that is not the purpose rather we only want them to see that we are holding their hands and walking with them in this hard time.

The group Azaad Pakistan has arranged various other activities in the past. When Operation Zarb e Azb started people were eager to show their support for the Pakistan Army, so they started a letter campaign by the slogan “RangLayegaLaho” in which over 8000 letters were sent to the soldiers through ISPR and COAS General Raheel Sharif personally appreciated the group’s efforts.

One of the injured soldier’s on getting the letter said, “Such spirits really warms our blood .... and makes us give every drop of our Blood in order to save our People and Save our Pakistan; we want nothing except trust of our Patriotic Pakistanis and their love;Civilians we love u all are our family... May u and Pakistan live long amen.”

This article was published in The Nation on 16 Dec 2015