Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan along with his newly-wed wife Reham Khan, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak and others visited the terror-hit Army Public School amidst protest by the parents of martyred children outside the schools, who tried to stop Imran convoy from entering the school. Imran Khan faced embarrassment due to parents' protest outside the school, as they continuously chanted 'Go Imran Go' slogans on arrival of his convoy.
The parents opined that politicians were visiting the school just to gain 'political mileage.' Police acted quickly to clear the way for the entourage of Imran Khan. Later, the PTI chief expressed bewilderment at the protests outside the School. "I don't understand what the point of the protests was ... I am just a chief of a party and Pervaiz Khattak is the chief minister of the province, but the school is run by the army." Imran said at a news conference later at CM Secretariat.
The PTI chief went on to add that he was caught off guard by the protest since he only visited the school to express solidarity with the parents and to increase the morale of the students. "If I have come here to increase the morale of the parents then what kind of a protest can be against us?" Imran questioned.
PTI chief clarified that he had to postpone his scheduled visit to APS on January 12 as he was told that Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif was to visit the school on that day. "I fully understand their grief...they have lost their children," he said, referring to protest of the parents. "I respect their right to protest," he added. Khan said that he was happy to see the courage of the students who survived the attack, adding his party's government in KP would not allow disruption of educational activities in the province.
If the parents' anger is emanating from the lack of security at schools then he should not be held responsible. There were over 65,000 schools in KP and police could not gauds each and every school physically, he added. Imran said that he initially got off his car to pacify the protesters. "But I saw some people who did not look like parents, they responded with political comments so I went back to my car."
Earlier, addressing the students during his visit to the school the PTI chief said that the horrific attack was an attempt to scare children from going to school. Imran said the purpose of his visit was to express solidarity with the bereaved families. "I am thankful for such a great welcome, the morale of the students is high," he said. "Without education, the country cannot progress," he added.
Imran Khan along with his wife also laid floral wreath on the monument of martyred children in the School, and offered Fateha for their departed soul. Meanwhile, talking to media persons, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani on Wednesday blamed political opponents especially ANP and PML-N for trying to stop PTI Chairman Imran Khan from entering Army Public School in Peshawar.
"Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have formed Shuhda Forum and the protesters outside Army Public School were members of the forum," Ghani said while addressing a press conference. He said eight to 10 political workers tried to block the route of the convoy, adding they were just trying to score political points.