Pakistani Army school attack victims' parents seek justice

The parents of those killed in the 2014 Peshawar Army Public School terrorist attack have planned a sit-in here to demand a judicial commission of inquiry and punishment to the officials responsible for the security of the children.

Advocate Ajoon Khan, the father of a student killed in the December 16 attack, was again planning to visit Islamabad along with other parents seeking justice for those killed. The bereaved returned disappointed on September 1 as they failed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Dawn online reported.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants killed around 150 people, most of them children, in the attack that drew condemnation from across the world.

At least 60 family members of the killed students earlier reached Islamabad to meet Sharif, but were stopped by the district administration at the entrance of the Red Zone, Ajoon Khan told Dawn.

"They told us that a camp was vacant in front of the National Press Club and we should shift there until a meeting is arranged with the Prime Minister the next day," he said.

"We said we will prefer to stay in front of the Prime Minister House but were again stopped near Zero Point," he said.

According to Khan, they were assured that a meeting with Sharif would be arranged next week. The parents will again visit to Islamabad on Thursday and hold a sit-in in front of the PM House.

Khan said that instead of taking action against those behind the attack, the government had named a school in Islamabad after his killed son Asfand Khan.

"I don't want any compensation because it will be like selling the blood of my son. I want justice. We used to pay Rs 500 per month as a security fee for each student as we were told that army officials were providing security to our children. But no one was held responsible after the massacre," he said.

Islamabad's Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Sattar Isani said steps for the grieving parents' meeting with Sharif will be taken next week.

--IANS

py/vt