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Pakistan mourns victims of deadly school attack

More than 140 children and educators killed in brutal Taliban assault in Peshawar
Pakistan mourns victims of deadly school attack

Pakistanis hold a candlelight vigil at Teen Talwar Roundabout in Karachi in memory of school children killed in Tuesday's attack on a military-run school in Peshawar (Credit: ucanews.com)

Published: December 17, 2014 03:38 AM GMT
Updated: December 16, 2014 06:58 PM GMT

The death toll in Tuesday’s deadly Taliban assault on a military-run school in Peshawar rose to 141 with 132 children among the victims, officials said.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Asim Bajwa confirmed that 132 schoolchildren and 9 staff members were killed in the attack on the school, which is located in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Another 120 children, three staff members and eight commandoes were injured, he said.

“Seven gunmen dressed in military uniforms barged into the Army Public School from the backside, walked straight to [the] auditorium and started firing indiscriminately,” Bajwa said.

“The terrorists had no plan to take hostage of the teachers or students as they made no demands. Their only intention was to kill innocent children,” he said.

He said quick a response force arrived at the scene within 15 minutes after the assault began at 10:30am.

Troops then pushed the attackers into an administrative block, where they were eventually killed after eight hours of gun battle, he said. The chief military spokesman said that all the assailants were wearing suicide jackets.

He said that 1,099 children were registered at the school.

The attack, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as revenge for a major military offensive in the region, sparked condemnation worldwide and led the Pakistani government and military to reaffirm their determination to defeat a group that has killed thousands since it began its insurgency in 2007.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared a three-day national mourning period to express solidarity and sympathy with the families of victims and called an emergency meeting of parliamentary party leaders on Wednesday in Peshawar.

"Such acts of cowardice will not deter our resolve to end terrorism. The operation will continue until the extermination of the last terrorist," Sharif said in a statement.

“There should not be any fissures, differences and divisions in the nation at this critical juncture."

He said that the terrorist attack in school had given a renewed determination to the whole nation.

"We will take account of each and every drop of our children's blood. It is time for the whole nation to stand against the terrorists by keeping aside their differences."

In addition, all provincial governments announced three days of mourning.

Pakistan foreign office said that all foreign missions have been directed to observe the mourning in the wake of horrendous attack in Peshawar.

“The national flag at the Embassies/High Commissions would be flown at half-mast and all scheduled festive events shall be cancelled,” a statement said.

Condolence books are to be opened for signatures during the period in Pakistan missions all over the world.

Pakistan’s legal fraternity, private school associations and traders announced that they would observe a complete strike on Wednesday.

Activists held candlelight vigil in several cities Tuesday night to express solidarity with the bereaved families of victims. Participants chanted slogans against the TTP and called for strong action against the militant group.

Condemnations

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who herself was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman two years ago, said that she was “heartbroken” by the “senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar”.

“Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this,” she said in public statements.

“I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable. I, along with millions of others around the world, mourn these children, my brothers and sisters — but we will never be defeated.”

Pakistan’s independent human rights commission called the assault a “national tragedy of immense proportions”.

“Our heart goes out to the families of the children whose lives have been cut short by this abhorrent act of terrorism,” it said.

“The target was an army-run school, but it was a school nonetheless. It is not children who fight against the Taliban. And yet the choice of the target and the heavy casualties among the children leave no doubt that the massacre was aimed at killing as many children as possible.

HRCP reiterated its firm belief that Taliban and Pakistan cannot coexist and anyone still harboring any notions to the contrary is naive beyond belief.

Even the Afghan Taliban have condemned the school attack.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always condemned the killing of children and innocent people at every juncture," the Afghan Taliban, which often target civilians, said in a statement released late Tuesday. "The intentional killing of innocent people, women and children goes against the principles of Islam and every Islamic government and movement must adhere to this fundamental essence."

Protests postponed

Pakistan opposition leader Imran Khan postponed his party’s nationwide protest planned for December 18 and announced that he would be joining a national conference summoned by Prime Minister Sharif.

“I will be attending the meeting called by the PM tomorrow morning to reassure the nation that we are united at this time of national tragedy,” he tweeted.

Pakistan firebrand cleric Tahir ul Qadri also withdrew his call to stage anti-government rallies across Pakistan.

Additional reporting by AFP.

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