LAHORE: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Faisal Mir has declared that tragedies like the Army Public School massacre will continue to occur until politics conducted in the name of religion is completely eliminated from the country. He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held at the PPP's Johar Town office in memory of the APS martyrs, where participants recited Fatiha and lit candles to honor the victims.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by party members including Majeed Ghauri, Shahbaz Durrani, Haji Rafaqat, Tariq Chaudhry, and a large number of party workers, Faisal Mir stated that the PPP's perceived crime is that it refuses to incite people in the name of religion. He emphasized that such tragedies will persist as long as politicians continue to seek votes by invoking religion and Islam.

The senior PPP leader argued that instead of using religion as a political tool, parties should focus on addressing the actual problems faced by the people. He called for a serious examination of the factors that led to the December 16 tragedy, pointing to former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq's use of religion as a weapon in politics. According to Faisal Mir, this approach replaced reason with weapons, ultimately giving rise to terrorism and extremism throughout the country.

He further criticized how Zia invoked the name of jihad to train a generation that subsequently engaged in religion-based politics. Faisal Mir warned that even today, innocent youth are being trained in madrassas with promises of paradise, perpetuating a dangerous cycle of extremism.

During the ceremony, Majeed Ghauri claimed that India is committing acts of terrorism in Pakistan and called on Field Marshal Asim Munir to direct the Education Department to observe the anniversary as a black day in all educational institutions across the country. He also alleged that India is now spreading harmful propaganda by producing films against the PPP.

The ceremony concluded with Majeed Ghauri leading prayers for the martyrs of the APS tragedy, as participants remembered one of the darkest days in Pakistan's history when terrorists attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 149 people, including 132 schoolchildren.