December 16, 2015 marked the one year anniversary since the horrendous tragedy that shook the Pakistani nation to its core. Not a single eye was dry and everyone, for once, was united in condemning the senseless killing of innocent children in their school. The APS kids became a symbol of our national failure and a lesson for us to forget our differences and petty disputes to unite for our future.
In order to mark the first anniversary since the angels of APS left us shameful, Pakistanis from all corners of the country marked the occasion by organizing remembrance ceremonies, duas and vigils.
This is what happened across the country:
People on twitter prayed for the lives we lost
May Allah rest their souls in eternal peace & enable their families to bear the loss with courage and fortitude. #CantForgetPeshawarAttack
— Sir Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) December 16, 2015
may Allah grant them higher rank in Jannah.(Ameen) #CantForgetPeshawarAttack pic.twitter.com/OQZTs5re1q
— Nomy Sahir (@NomyPti) December 16, 2015
Sentiments were the same elsewhere on social media
Source: sarr_dard Via: instagram
Source: FATE – From Apathy To Empathy Via: facebook
People are still saddened and shocked by the event
I wonder I don't even know them and I'm like my heart is crying for them what about their mothers ? #CantForgetPeshawarAttack
— fama~25/12♥ (@WithDueRespct) December 16, 2015
Source: divamagazinepakistan Via: instagram
Who knew that it was the last night of #APSMartyrs they will go to school for never coming back. #CantForgetPeshawarAttack
— Nαвəəℓ Қнαη™ (@hyp3rfr3ak) December 16, 2015
Special tributes were given for the brave Principal and staff of APS
These were people who had the opportunity to escape and save their own lives but they stayed behind so that they could fight for the helpless children.
Source: kundisanwal Via: instagram
What a Brave lady she was . Salute Mam #RevengeThroughPen pic.twitter.com/Er9VkmzzQj
— ناصر صاحب (@Nasirsahb) December 16, 2015
Tribute to the Principal of APS who embrace martyrdom while saving kids from terrorist! #CantForgetPeshawarAttack pic.twitter.com/eH99yf3Laz
— Hameed Ullah Shaheen (@iHUSB) December 16, 2015
But the most heartening to see were people who still hoped that things could get better
#RevengeThroughPen Avenging with love We DID & we WILL eliminate the menace of terrorism,internal or external #VOW pic.twitter.com/ZK6lsy0Uws
— Sadz (@RJSadiaSattar) December 16, 2015
Source: artisan.pk Via: instagram
#CantForgetPeshawarAttack #sieaccess stds wrote heart touching messages for the victims of Peshawar @usconsulatekhi pic.twitter.com/F7hypvOBQM
— Anum Faheem (@AnumFaheem) December 16, 2015
Plan for educating next generation by giving free edu at all level? We don't need mourning we need education 2/2 #CantForgetPeshawarAttack
— MUhammad IMran (@muhemran) December 15, 2015
Here’s to learning from our mistakes, to forgetting if someone is Shia, Sunni, Ahmedi, Barelvi or Wahabi but to remembering that we are all Pakistani, to working together so that we can provide a safer, happier, friendlier Pakistan for our children.
Here’s to the children and staff of APS Peshawar. We should never forget, or the world will forget us.