Pakistan stands united post-December 16 school attack: Sharif

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the ghastly attack on the Peshawar army-school has united the entire nation, and added that Pakistan will observe December 16 as the “Day of National Resolve to promote eduction”.

On the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the army-run public school last year, Sharif and the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, on Wednesday joined families of the students who were massacred.

“The attack on the army school has united the whole nation against terrorism as it was a painful incident for everyone. Time has come to root out terrorism,” Nawaz Sharif told a largely-attended gathering at the school building in Peshawar.

“Terrorists who have killed innocent children will be brought to justice. We will take revenge of every drop of blood of the martyred children,” Sharif said, adding that the school tragedy has fixed the future course for Pakistan.

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the brutal attack in which over 150 people, mostly students, were killed on December 16, 2014.

The first anniversary of the attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar was observed across the country with people showing solidarity with the bereaved families.

Nawaz Sharif also paid tributes to the armed forces for waging a valiant campaign against terrorism under the leadership of Gen. Sharif and completely eliminating the terrorists.

The prime minister said that the major offensive has broken the backbone of terrorists and the day is not far when terrorism will be completely eliminated.