Ankara, Report by Shabana Ayaz
A solemn commemorative ceremony was held today at Keçiören Orman Park, Ankara, to honour the memory of the school children and staff who were martyred in the heinous terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS), Peshawar, in 2014.
The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Deputy Mayor of Keçiören Municipality Mr. Atilla Zorlu, representatives of civil society, officials of Keçiören Municipality, and members of the Embassy of Pakistan.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Dr. Yousaf Junaid stated that the attack on innocent school children was an assault on the collective conscience of humanity. He said the tragedy further strengthened Pakistan’s national resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms. He highlighted that Pakistan’s armed forces, guided by the National Action Plan, have carried out decisive and successful counter-terrorism operations. While significant progress has been achieved, he emphasized that the fight against terrorism continues.
The Ambassador expressed deep gratitude to the government and people of Türkiye for their unwavering solidarity and for keeping alive the memory of the innocent victims of terrorism. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Türkiye in its ongoing struggle against terrorism.
In his remarks, Deputy Mayor Mr. Atilla Zorlu strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack on innocent children. He affirmed that the people of Türkiye would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with their Pakistani brothers and sisters in all spheres, especially in the joint fight against terrorism.
Ambassador Dr. Yousaf Junaid, along with Deputy Mayor Zorlu and other dignitaries, laid wreaths at the memorial dedicated to the APS martyrs. The trees at Keçiören Orman Park, planted in January 2015 by Keçiören Municipality in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan, remain a lasting symbol of remembrance for the martyred children.
