Corps Commander Lahore pays homeage to APS martyrs

Lahore : Commander Lahore Corps Lieutenant General Sadiq Ali has said that the tragic incident of brutal massacre of 147 innocent students and teachers of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar on 16 December 2014 proved one of the most defining moments in our national history. He said that this commemorative day reminds us how both students and teachers jointly faced the carnage with courage, dignity and pride thus leaving behind a message of sacrifice, resilience and hope for the generations to come. He was addressing a special assembly on the 2nd anniversary of Shuhada APS Peshawar, held to pay homage at APS Lahore Garrison.

“The supreme sacrifices rendered by the students of APS strengthened our national resolve and determination that we cannot be deterred by such cowardly acts of terrorism and shall defeat the forces of extremism and illiteracy with full force no matter what the cost”, the Corps Commander said.

Lieutenant General Sadiq Ali said that Pakistan Army with the massive support of the people of Pakistan has broken the back of anti-state elements. The country has persevered against odds and entered a new phase of peace and stability, where despondency has been replaced with hope and prosperity.

Earlier, Chairman APS Lahore Garrison, Major General (Retd) Farrukh Rasheed paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of APS Peshawar and said that the motto of Army Public Schools and Colleges, “We Shall Rise and Shine” embodies the strength of our students to fight and defeat the forces of obscurantism with even greater commitment to pursue the path of knowledge.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of students and teachers of Army Public School, Lahore. Later in the evening, a candle light vigil to commemorate the martyrdom of students and teachers of APS Peshawar was held at Yadgar-e-Shuhada in Lahore Garrison.