3-day mourning at Pakistan missions

People holding a candlelight vigil at the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai on Wednesday for the victims of Tuesday’s attack on a school in Peshawar. — KT photo by Mukesh Kamal

Dubai: Pursuant to the directives of the government of Pakistan, the embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai are observing a three-day mourning in rememberance of the victims of the heinous terrorist attack on a Peshawar school on December 16.

Gargash questions Taleban’s ideology Staff Reporter Abu Dhabi: The brutal school massacre in Pakistani city of Peshawar reiterates the UAE’s right stand of confronting extremism and terrorism, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, tweeted on Wednesday. On his Twitter page, Gargash said: “The stand against terrorism should not carry neutrality. The danger is real as it is in Peshawar, which claimed the (lives of) the young and weak,” he added. “Which religious stand can justify a crime that targeted innocent children? “The Taleban and other terrorist and extremist groups have taken advantage of the neutral and unclear positions taken by some of us.” A total of 141 innocent children have become victims of the Taleban. “Some would explain and compare, while the fact is wide and clear: terrorism and extremism are our prime challenges. We, as societies, have to shoulder responsibility. It is a distorted logic that some resort to. Violence in this or another country does not justify the gruesome killing of 141 Pakistani children under any circumstances. “Let us review our morals. “Let’s ask ourselves about the tendencies and ideology that the Taleban has adopted, which justify violence, murder and targeting innocent children, and hating education and learning. So what is that deadly and criminal ideology?” he concluded. malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com

The Pakistani flag is lowered to half-mast and all scheduled festive events have been postponed. A condolence book has been opened at the embassy and will be available for signatures from 11am to 3pm between December 17 and 19.

A condolence meeting of the Pakistani community will be held at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai today.

A condolence book has also been opened at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai which will be available for signatures from 2pm to 4pm today and tomorrow.

‘Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza’ (funeral) prayer was held at the residence of the Consul General on Wednesday followed by condolence meeting and a candle light vigil.

Earlier in the day, Thee Kindergarten Starters, Dubai, mourned the untimely deaths of children and people who were killed in the terror attack. A minute of silence was observed to offer homage to the departed souls during the school assembly. Students conveyed their heartfelt messages to the people in Pakistan through various social media websites. A group of students visited the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai and met with the Consul General Javed Jalil Khattak. They recited verses from the Holy Quran to offer their condolencess and expressed their deep sense of anguish to the Consul General who in turn promised to convey the same to the people in Pakistan. He was touched by the kind gesture of the youngsters and thanked them for their compassionate messages.

The killing of 141 people (including 132 school children) in a grisly and brutal attack in Peshawar, Pakistan by the Taleban fighters has shocked the entire world.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

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