Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the nation was united in its fight against terrorism, as he paid tribute to over 140 victims of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack.
At least 144 people ─ mostly schoolchildren ─ were killed when heavily-armed militants attacked the army-run public school on Dec 16, 2014 in the country’s deadliest terror attack. Seven Special Services Group soldiers and two officers were wounded.
In a message shared on his X account, PM Shehbaz wrote, “Today we pay tribute to the martyrs of APS Peshawar tragedy – the innocent children, teachers and staff members whose blood has been permanently written into our national history”.
“Their sacrifice is a standing reminder for all of us about our collective responsibility to address and defeat terrorism,” the premier emphasised.
“The Pakistani nation will stand united and firm in the face of our enemies to defend our homeland… We remain undeterred in confronting the menace of terrorism,” he added, offering prayers for the families of those who died.
آرمی پبلک اسکول پشاور کے بچوں کی جدائی کا درد الفاظ میں بیان ممکن نہیں۔
یہ سانحہ ہمارے لیے باعثِ افسوس بھی ہے اور قومی بیداری کا لمحہ بھی۔
ان کی قربانی پاکستان کے تحفظ کے عزم کو مزید مضبوط کرتی ہے۔#APS_Peshawar_Black_day pic.twitter.com/m5ZABjOdmv— 💥 PAK ARMY 💥 (@PAK_Defence_) December 16, 2025
President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, recalled the sacrifices of the children and staff members adding that being one ’As a parents’, he stood with those who lost their loved-ones.
“Today, we remember the innocent children and staff of the Army Public School who were martyred during a brutal terrorist attack on December16,” he said in a message In his statement shared through his spokesman on X.
“Their sacrifice, they guard the legacy of our nation at the highest levels,” the president said.
He promised to be there for the families “who have kept on suffering this pain with dignity”.
“The country will never forget the resolve of APS families, who turned their unexplainable grief into a strength for Pakistan,” he emphasised. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s pledge to rid the region of terrorism and said that the nation’s determination remained “unblemished”.
“There cannot be soft corner for terrorists or those who fund them or finance them,” he said, underscoring that “there will be no talks with people who pick up guns and guns down the children”.
“We strongly oppose Indian sponsored terrorism in Pakistan,” he added.
It’s well documented evidence of its complicity and conspiracy to destabilise our country. Pakistan will remain exposing these aggressive acts and we shall protect Pak people at all costs,” he said.Meanwhile, according to the inter-services public relations (ISPR), the ceasefire violations were reported from Kotkotera sector of AJK.
The president warned terrorists’ “apologists, facilitators and supporters” saying the armed forces will not “spare them and will defeat terrorism no matter what political or ideological or false religious garbs they try to wear.”
President Zardari credited the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and intelligence organizations “for averting many such tragedies.”
“We will continue to hunt down every terrorist and all those who harbored them until justice is done,” he said.
“The APS martyrs’ memory reinforces our will. The enemies of peace will never succeed in Pakistan, the president said.
