Embassy of Pakistan
Press Section
Ankara
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Press Release
Ankara, 16 December 2021
COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY FOR APS PESHAWAR TERRORIST ATTACK MARTYRS HELD IN ANKARA
A commemorative ceremony was held today at Keçiören, Ankara to pay homage to the school children and staff martyred in the brutal terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in 2014. Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, officials from Keçiören Municipality and Pakistan Embassy officials attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Syrus Qazi stated the on the tragic day of 16 December 2014, APS Peshawar was attacked by the terrorists, martyring over 140 people including 132 children. He noted that this carnage was one of the most tragic events in our history that had left every Pakistani in utter shock and grief. The Ambassador reiterated that as a nation we pledge never to allow such tragedies to befall on us in future.
Ambassador Qazi thanked the people of Turkey who were among the first in the world to reach out and express strong solidarity with the people of Pakistan in dark hour of grief .“The moral gesture of Keçiören Municipality of planting a tree for each martyr is a source of strength for the grieving families and the Pakistani Nation. This would keep the memory of our children alive in Turkey forever,” he underlined.
The Ambassador along with Kecioren Municipality officials laid wreath at the memorial of the APS martyrs, followed by prayers for the innocent departed souls. The participants also laid flowers at the memorial.
When the heinous APS Peshawar attack happened on 16 December 2014, the people and leadership of Turkey extended spontaneous support to Pakistan and declared a day of national mourning. Moreover, as a show of solidarity, Keçiören Municipality and Youth Wing members of the Justice and Development (AK) Party planted trees, one for each shaheed, at the AK Party Memorial Forest in Keçiören, Ankara.
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