PESHAWAR: During a daylong visit to the provincial capital, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday went to the terrorism-hit Army Public School and houses of the deceased schoolchildren and teachers to sympathise with the bereaved families.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, members of his cabinet and PTI leaders accompanied him.

Imran placed a bouquet and a wreath at the main gate of the auditorium, where the Taliban terrorists had killed most of the schoolchildren and their teachers on Dec 16.

He offered fateha and paid homage to the deceased.

The military officials briefed him on the terrorist attack, said a handout issued here.

Says nation united to end terrorism, a task difficult but not impossible

The PTI chief said the Dec 16 national tragedy was more catastrophic than 9/11 terrorist attacks as it soaked eyes of Pakistani nation and the entire world community at large with immense gloom and shock.

He said no religion allowed violence against innocent children.

“We don’t know who were the stonyhearted people who sprayed bullets on teenage children. They neither took pity on them nor did they thought what brutal crime they’re were committing,” he said.

Imran Khan later visited houses of some deceased schoolchildren in the city and condoled with their parents.

He also went to the house of the school’s principal, Tahira Qazi, and condoled with her husband, Qazi Inamullah.

The PTI chairman prayed Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and paid homage to the courage of Tahira Qazi for sacrificing own life to save lives of so many children.

He also termed it encouraging that parents, brothers and sisters of the deceased children and family members of the slain Principal and teachers expressed pride on the sacrifice of their kith and kin.

Imran said living nations always gave such a bold reaction on their sacrifices during a state of war.

Imran said bloodshed of ‘little angels’ would not go to waste as it would bear good results for the coming generations in shape of ending terrorism and bringing about peace.

He said the nation was united on one point agenda of eliminating terrorism, a task difficult but not impossible.

The PTI chief said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was in constant contact with federal government to equip its police force to combat terrorism and evolve intelligence sharing mechanism as well as securing its borders with Fata that would soon yield fruits.

Imran Khan along-with cabinet members also attended a briefing on law and order situation in the province at CM House Peshawar.

Provincial home secretary Akhtar Ali Shah and IGP Nasir Khan Durrani apprised him of the emerging challenges in respect of terrorism, law and order wherein it was revealed that the illegal mobile phone sim cards, having no authority to intercept talks between terrorists groups and prolong stay of Afghan refugees in millions were the main causes of increase in heinous crimes including terror bids, target killing, extortion and abduction for ransom.

Imran Khan assured to approach the centre on these critical issues and resolving it for good to make Pakistan safe and secure in all respects.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak expressed grief over the death of brother of former provincial minister Dost Mohammad Khan.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2014