ISLAMABAD: Five years into the country’s most heart-wrenching terrorist attack, in which the Taliban murdered 149 people, most of them schoolchildren, Pakistani leaders vow to never forget the victims and the way they died.
On Dec. 16, 2014, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) gunmen entered the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and opened fire on students and teachers, killing 132 children and 17 school staff.
On the fifth anniversary of the APS attack, parents held candlelit vigils in Peshawar to remember the victims.
Special prayers were also offered in different parts of the city to remember the carnage.
The army-run school that came under terrorist attack displayed a huge banner carrying photos of the students killed in the attack and held a special prayer ceremony.
President Arif Alvi said the nation must not forget “the massacre of little angels” and teachers. It is “hard to commemorate this day without tears in one’s eyes. In its remembrance, we reiterate our pledge to root out terrorism and extremism in all its manifestations from our country,” he said in a tweet on Monday.
“Today, we remember and pray for the survivors and victims of APS Peshawar incident. The blood of the innocent united the nation against all forms of extremism, terrorism, violence and hatred,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a statement.
While paying tribute to young martyrs, the premier also honored the sacrifices of the country’s security forces “in the fight against the scourge of terrorism.”
“We pledge on this day not to allow any militant mindset to take our country and the nation hostage to its bigoted vision,” Khan said.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), quoted Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying “the APS carnage will never be forgotten. Five of the involved terrorists have been hanged through military courts. Salute to martyrs and their families.”
“We have come a long way in failing terrorism as a nation. United we move toward lasting peace and prosperity of Pakistan,” the Twitter post by the ISPR said.
Pakistan remembers lives lost in 2014 Peshawar school massacre
https://arab.news/p746j
Pakistan remembers lives lost in 2014 Peshawar school massacre
- PM says the blood of the innocent united the nation against all forms of extremism
- Army Public School carnage will never be forgotten, says army chief
Pakistan stocks recover as oil supply fears ease after Islamabad seeks Red Sea route— analyst
- Pakistan has sought Saudi help to secure oil supplies via Red Sea port after Iran’s closure of Strait if Hormuz
- Analyst says higher crude oil prices, expectations of IMF releasing next loan tranche also triggered bullish activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks marked a sharp recovery when trading closed on Thursday, as institutional activity increased following Islamabad’s move to seek crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port eased oil supply fears, a financial analyst said.
Pakistani stocks have recorded a sharp decline this week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording its largest-ever single-day decline on Monday when it plunged 16,089 points. Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered panic selling at the Pakistani bourse, forcing a temporary trading halt on Monday.
The KSE-100 index, however, gained 3.49 percent or 5,433.46 points to close at 161,210.67 when trading ended on Thursday, up from the previous close of 155,777.21 points, according to Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) data.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has threatened Pakistan’s energy supply. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply passes through the route. Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
“Stocks staged a sharp recovery at PSX amid institutional activity on easing fuel supply fears after KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] commits oil supplies through the Red Sea port,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
He said higher global crude oil prices and expectations of the International Monetary Fund releasing its next tranche of the $7 billion loan for Pakistan also helped bullish activity at the PSX.
An IMF mission was in Pakistan to hold talks on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility multi-year program, and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility this week.
However, the delegation left for Türkiye amid tensions in the Gulf. Pakistani officials have said talks are likely to continue virtually in the coming days.
Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities said in its daily market review report that strong institutional buying “turned the tide” on Thursday after the market’s recent overreaction to regional issues.
The report added that Hub Power Company (HUBC), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Engro Corporation (ENGROH), and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) collectively contributed 2,197 points to the KSE benchmark’s gain.
Topline Securities said 723 million shares were traded on Thursday, with K-Electric Limited (KEL) stealing the spotlight as more than 1.17 billion shares changed hands.
Pakistani investors are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes and further retaliatory actions, as the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain.
