Remembering APS attack that shook Pakistan

A decade ago, on December 16, 2014, militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, killing 147 people, including 122 innocent students.

Among the victims Khaula was the youngest and only girl student killed in the attack. She had come to enroll in Montessori on that tragic day.

Primarily, children of military personnel studied at the school, which was located near a military complex in Peshawar.

The terrorists infiltrated the school by scaling its walls and indiscriminately opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms.

During the attack, six militants were killed in combat, while nine security personnel, including two officers, sustained injuries. 

Following the incident, the Pakistan Army arrested 12 terrorists involved in planning the assault. 

Of these, six primary suspects were sentenced to death, with five executions carried out. Others were taken into custody for further investigation.

A study published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences highlighted the long-term psychological effects of the tragedy.

It revealed that many survivors experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) despite receiving psychological training and rehabilitation services for five months. 

Over 50% of the affected students exhibited symptoms of PTSD, which impacted various aspects of their lives, including hobbies, friendships, schoolwork, family relations, household chores, general happiness, and spiritual practices like prayers.

According to the reports, the Pakistan Army took action against officials whose negligence contributed to the tragedy. 

The judicial commission investigating the incident criticised the school's security arrangements, noting a lack of sufficient guards and their improper deployment, despite prior threats.

It further revealed that some residents in the vicinity of the school had facilitated the attackers.

The APS attack sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting an intensified response against terrorism.

In its aftermath, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership formulated the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP), which included the establishment of military courts for swift trials of terrorists and the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty.