ISLAMABAD: Seventy-seven parents of the students who were martyred in the Army Public School, Peshawar, massacre have approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) over one of the most tragic incidents in Pakistan’s national history, in which 147 innocent citizens—mostly students in uniform—lost their lives to merciless terrorists.
Through their advocate Mian Shafaqat Jan, the parents of the shuhada have filed an application making the Federation of Pakistan (through the Attorney General) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (through the Advocate General) as respondents.
They requested the court to exercise its original jurisdiction under Article 175E(3) and issue directions to the federal government and all relevant authorities to implement the recommendations of a one-man commission—constituted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on October 5, 2018—within a fixed, court-monitored timeframe.
The parents note that the commission’s report, dated June 26, 2020, carries moral, constitutional, and judicial authority, and that non implementation amounts to non compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
They seek a declaration that continued non implementation or selective implementation violates their fundamental rights under Articles 9, 14, and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan. They further ask the court to ensure equal compensation and equal treatment for all shuhada families, as previously directed by the Peshawar High Court in Writ Petitions No.593 P/2018 and 736 P/2018.
Specifically, they request implementation of pending recommendations including equal compensation for families of shuhada students and staff; exemption from property tax for parents; waiver of development charges on DHA plots allotted to shuhada families; employment opportunities for parents and siblings; annual commemoration of December 16 as “Shuhada Day”; upgradation of APS & C Warsak to “Shuhada APS University”; and provision of all remaining educational, medical, psychological and financial assistance.
Finally, they pray that the FCC direct the respondents to submit periodic compliance reports until full implementation is achieved.
