PESHAWAR: When the entire nation was celebrating the Independence Day on Friday the parents of the slain students of Army Public School, Peshawar, spent the day on roads leading from Peshawar to the Presidency in Islamabad in protest against the government for not fulfilling commitments it had made with them.

Over 150 parents and relatives of the slain students took out a procession from Peshawar and reached outside the President House, Islamabad, where they staged a demonstration in favour of their two major demands.

“We want justice for our martyred children. We also want honours (Nisha-i-Haider) for them,” said Ajoon Khan, while talking to Dawn. Mr Khan’s son Asfand Khan, a student of class 10th of the APS, was one of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Dec 16, 2014.

He explained how the parents had been missing their children in the happy moments like the Independence Day, Eid and family functions. Asked about their major demands, Ajoon Khan said: “We have two demands – Nishan-e-Haider for our children and fixing the responsibility for the security lapse and punishment to the guilty”.

Hold procession from Peshawar to Islamabad on Independence Day

He said that so far no responsibility had been fixed on any individual or institution for the security lapse that led to the militant attack on the school. He said that whosoever was responsible for the security lapse on Dec 16, either the provincial government or any of the departments, should be punished.

“The people responsible for the security lapse should also be tried by the military courts,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, one of the parents recalled that soon after the APS attack the Peshawar corps commander had pledged in a meeting with them that Nishan-i-Haider or an equivalent to it would be awarded to their children for laying down their lives for the country. “Or, in the same meeting, he (corps commander) had made a commitment that a new gallantry award would be introduced to be awarded only to the martyred of APS,” he added.

However, the government conferred Tamgha-i-Shujaat on the martyred students, he said, adding that the parents considered it (Tamgha Shujaat) far less to the sacrifices of their children.

The parents and their relatives assembled at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday morning and took out the rally towards the Presidency. The protesting parents were boarding around 50 cars and five coaches. They were holding pictures of their children, placards and banners inscribed with their demands and slogans.

Ajoon Khan claimed that when they reached the Presidency its gate was closed for the parents who chanted slogans against the government. “We want justice and Nishan-i-Haider”, “Bacho hum sharmenda hy, tery katil zinda hy”, were the prominent slogans raised by the parents outside the Presidency, he said.

He said that after protesting for an hour, ADC of the President came out and promised their meeting with the President on coming Monday.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015

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