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
— Abdullah (@AbdullahSays99_) December 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/NomyPti/status/677089095538114561
Sentiments were the same elsewhere on social media
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
— somia ~🇵🇰 (@WithDueRespct) December 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/hyp3rfr3ak/status/677081819922210816
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.
https://twitter.com/Nasirsahb/status/677100248389574656
Tribute to the Principal of APS who embrace martyrdom while saving kids from terrorist!#CantForgetPeshawarAttack
https://t.co/eH99yf3Laz— Hameed Ullah Shaheen (@iHUSB) December 16, 2015
But the most heartening to see were people who still hoped that things could get better
https://twitter.com/RJSadiaSattar/status/677105957487382528
#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
— IMRAN ASHNA (@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.