News / Pakistan

Ralliers rap 'sluggish' inquiry into Pakistan massacre

Saturday, 07 February 2015 11:19 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 07 February 2015 11:28 PM ]

Pakistani relatives of schoolchildren killed in a militant attack on a school protest in Peshawar against delays in an investigation into the massacre, on February 7, 2015. (AFP Photo)

Hundreds of Pakistani people have staged a rally in the northwestern city of Peshawar, calling on the government to expedite an investigation into a militant attack on an army-run school in the city.

On Saturday, the protesters gathered outside the Army Public School where pro-Taliban militants murdered about 150 people, including 132 students, in December last year, to express their anger at the "sluggish" police inquiry about the massacre.

"Sorry kids! No banner large enough to cover the shame of the state and government," read one banner carried by the demonstrators.

"We want a judicial inquiry as we are not satisfied with the ongoing investigations because there seems to be no progress," said Raza Bangash, who lost his 14-year-old son in the raid.

The parents of the murdered children also urged government officials to be more transparent in their dealings with the victims' families.

Peshawar's administrator Riaz Mehsud, who was present at the protest site, assured the parents that the government would do everything possible to help them.

"I stand by you and the provincial government will support you and redress all your grievances," Mehsud said.

In the wake of the December 16 attack, Pakistan lifted the moratorium on the death penalty which had been in place for about six years. Some 22 militants have been hanged since then.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the raid, saying it was carried out in retaliation for the Pakistani army’s major military offensive in North Waziristan tribal area, which borders Afghanistan.

The Pakistani army started an operation against militant hideouts in North Waziristan in June 2014 after a deadly raid on Karachi Airport ended the government’s faltering peace talks with pro-Taliban militants.

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