BBC News
December 16, 2021
The attackers broke into the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar on December 16, 2014 and killed 144 children. Every year since then, only the topic of APS has been trending on Pakistani social media. ۔
Consumers are paying tribute to the children killed in the incident or saluting their bravery. In addition, a large number of consumers seem to be reiterating their commitment that they will never forget this tragedy.
The Prime Minister also tweeted this morning that Pakistan had successfully defeated terrorism and added, "I reiterate my commitment not to disappoint the parents of the invaders and martyred children."There is absolutely no room for violence and those who use it as a weapon.
دہشتگرد 16دسمبر 2014 کو پشاورکےآرمی پبلک سکول پر حملہ آورہوئےاور 132 بچوں سمیت 140 لوگوں کوشہید کیا۔پاکستان نےکامیابی سےدہشتگردی کو پچھاڑا۔میں اپنا عزم دہراتا ہوں کہ غازیوں اورشہیدبچوں کےوالدین کو مایوس نہیں کریں گے۔ تشدد اور اسےبطورہتھیار برتنے والوں کیلئےبالکل کوئی گنجائش نہیں۔
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 16, 2021
Similarly, Federal Minister for Human Rights Shirin Mazari tweeted that "we will never forget this and we will make sure that this never happens again ..."
Journalist Ajmal Jami writes, "Today is a reminder of this tragic tragedy that is etched in our memories forever ..."
The Pakistani government's own Twitter account also carried the message that "Pakistan remembers the APS attack as a national tragedy that united the entire nation against the scourge of terrorism."
A similar tweet was made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zulfi Bukhari in which he wrote: They can never forget.
But while there is a plethora of prayers and messages, there are many users who have been seen criticizing the government's statement.
User Waleed Tariq responded to Imran Khan's tweet by saying, "Are you saying that you will not talk to TTP? You were holding a sit-in in Islamabad when it happened in the province where your government was.
Another user, Ata-ur-Rehman, echoed the same sentiment, saying, "Your government has been in the province for the last eight years and you have been the Prime Minister for three years. Should parents of martyred children expect more justice from you?"
Writer Mehr Hussain wrote in response to Shireen Mazari's tweet that "there can be no more hollow message than this. The killers should have been jailed, not offered friendship and pardon. How can you say that? '
Another user, quoting former Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan, wrote, “What does it mean to never forget? Is it just a rhetoric or a lesson learned? We let Ehsanullah Ehsan go, lifted the ban on TLP, negotiated with the killers of APS and TTP ... So how can it be said that it will not happen again.
But while there is a plethora of prayers and messages, there are many users who have been seen criticizing the government's statement.
User Waleed Tariq responded to Imran Khan's tweet by saying, "Are you saying that you will not talk to TTP? You were holding a sit-in in Islamabad when it happened in the province where your government was.
Another user, Ata-ur-Rehman, echoed the same sentiment, saying, "Your government has been in the province for the last eight years and you have been the Prime Minister for three years. Should parents of martyred children expect more justice from you?"
Writer Mehr Hussain wrote in response to Shireen Mazari's tweet that "there can be no more hollow message than this. The killers should have been jailed, not offered friendship and pardon. How can you say that? '
Another user, quoting former Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan, wrote, “What does it mean to never forget? Is it just a rhetoric or a lesson learned? We let Ehsanullah Ehsan go, lifted the ban on TLP, negotiated with the killers of APS and TTP ... So how can it be said that it will not happen again.
