- Nizami says education only key to lasting peace, eradication of terrorism
Students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) University and local schools paid glowing tribute to the martyrs of Peshawar’s Army Public School during a ceremony “Hum Tumhe Bhooley Nahin” organised at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Tuesday.
Presided over by Pakistan Today Editor and Aiwan-e-Iqbal Chairman Arif Nizami, the ceremony was graced as guest of honour by NUML University Regional Director Brigadier (r) Muhammad Akram.
In his address to participants of the ceremony, Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami termed the Army Public School tragedy as the 9/11 of Pakistan.
He said the massacre of over 150 people, mostly school children, in Peshawar’s APS by terrorists was against the existence of Pakistan. He said the nation stood behind its armed forces in the war against terrorism, observing that the scenario had changed since the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb one-and-a-half years ago.
Nizami held the view that education was the only key to lasting peace and to eradication of terrorism. He said that education should be imparted through national institutions instead of religious seminaries propagating hatred and extremism.
Nizami also called upon the nation to come forward to materialise the dreams of national poet Allama Iqbal and the Quaid-e-Azam of a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
During the ceremony, the students presented tableaus and sang national songs to highlight the significance of the sacrifices of over 150 students, teachers and security officials martyred in a Taliban attack on December 16 last year.
Through their presentations, the students also showed sympathy towards the parents and relatives of the APS martyrs, and to send out the message that the nation was united to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country.
