03/09/2015, 00.00
PAKISTAN
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107 schools renamed after each child killed in Peshawar massacre,

The Taliban attack of 16 December 2014, killed 148 people, including 132 students between 7 and 14 years. The parent of one of the victims: "Proud that a school now bears my son’s name".

Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Pakistani authorities have renamed 107 schools across the country with the names of the victims of last year's massacre that targeted a school in Peshawar. Almost 150 people were killed, most of whom were students under 14 years of age. Islamabad announced its decision on March 6.

On December 16, 2014 a commando affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked a military school in Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province), killing 148 people, including 132 children between 7 and 14 years of age. The Taliban said the attack was in revenge for Pakistani army offensives in the northwest regions, along the border with Afghanistan, the historical strongholds of Islamists, which had caused the death of over 1,200 militiamen.

The massacre was strongly condemned by the whole of society, by leaders of the Catholic Church of Pakistan - in the strong interventions made by the bishop of Islamabad and the Archbishop of Karachi - as well as by the international community.

In the attack Khalid Khan lost his son Daud. "A school in my village - he explains - a suburb south of Peshawar, now bears my son's name. I went there as a child, today ​​Daud's cousins: I feel proud that it bears his name".

Tufail Khattak, whose son Sher Shah was killed in the attack, said that "the move is a way to remember the martyrdom of these children forever "

The commandos had orders to shoot and cause the greatest number of victims. Shiraz Khan, a student who survived the attack, said: "We were in class when we heard some shots and explosions. Our teacher told us to lie down on the ground, under the chairs and desks. As soon as someone tried to move, he was hit by bullets. There was blood everywhere".

 

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