'APS carnage will never be forgotten,' COAS, President say

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, on the fifth anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) attack, said the carnage will never be forgotten.

On Dec 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan carried out the horrific attack on the school and killed 132 innocent students and 17 staff members.

In a tweet on Monday via the Inter-Services Public Relations account, Gen Bajwa stated: "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 towards lasting peace and prosperity of Pakistan," he said.

President Arif Alvi in his message said the nation "cannot forget the massacre of little angels/teachers". "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 his message on the fifth anniversary of the APS attack, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: "The blood of the innocent united the nation against all forms of extremism, terrorism, violence and hatred."

In a statement shared by the Prime Minister's Office, the premier said that today (16 December) is a day to remember and pray for the survivors and the victims of the attack.

"On this day while paying tribute to our young martyrs, we also laud the sacrifices of our armed forces, police and law-enforcing agencies 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," he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said December 16 is "the blackest day in the country's history".

"Pained by the soul-searing memories of APS tragedy," he said.

"Scars of the martyrdom of innocent schoolchildren of APS left on the heart and soul are hard to erase, a pain that time cannot heal. My heartfelt condolences to all the families," the PML-N president added.