The country is observing the 11th anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar today (Tuesday), which claimed the lives of more than 140 people, including 134 schoolchildren.
On December 16, 2014, six terrorists linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed the APS campus and martyred 147 students and teachers. The attack remains the deadliest terrorist incident in Pakistan’s history.
The massacre pushed the government to launch a decisive crackdown against militant groups. In response, authorities set up military courts through constitutional and Army Act amendments to ensure swift trials of terrorists.
The Pakistan Army later confirmed that all six attackers involved in the APS assault were executed. Military courts sentenced 310 militants to death following the attack.
Security forces also eliminated the mastermind of the APS massacre, Umar Mansour, also known as Khalifa Mansour or Umar Naray, in a drone strike in Afghanistan.
Despite the introduction of the National Action Plan (NAP) and other security measures after the tragedy, militants continue to target some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The APS tragedy changed public opinion across Pakistan, as people demanded strict and uniform action against all forms of militancy. Political parties and security institutions later jointly formed the National Action Plan to counter extremism and terrorism.
Parliament unanimously approved the establishment of military courts to speed up trials of hardened terrorists.
On the day of the attack, the terrorists entered the school compound in mid-morning by climbing a wall, when more than 1,000 students and staff were present. They detonated their vehicle to distract the guards before entering the school.
The attackers then stormed the main assembly hall, where students were attending a first-aid lesson, and opened indiscriminate fire. Armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades, they later moved into classrooms and targeted teachers and senior students.
