The inquiry commission report on the 2014 Army Public School tragedy in which over 150 students and teachers were martyred, was a security failure, local media reported.
Comprising four parts, the 525-page report written by Justice Mohammad Ibrahim of the Peshawar High Court says Pakistan was active in the war on terrorism during which the terror activities peaked in the country.
The report which was made public on Friday said that the security personnel did not have the capability to thwart such a terrorist strike.
However, the attacks on sensitive installations and soft targets could not be justified under the excuse of war, the report noted, adding that the country’s north-western border was long and insecure.
According to the report, the movement of refugees across the north-western border continues under the government and international treaties.
But the local population providing assistance to extremist elements is an unpardonable crime. “Such devastating disasters do happen when our own blood betrays us.”
Because of such elements, not only the security arrangements made within limited resources fail but also help the enemy to fulfil their nefarious objectives. In this scenario, it can be said that any agency, no matter how much resources it has, fails to stop such incidents when help is extended from within, the document mentioned.
The report said that the three security layers – guards stationed at the gate, police patrolling the area and the Quick Response Force available within 10 minutes – had shifted their focus to the smoke blowing out of the vehicle that was set on fire as part of the plan.
As a result, the security’s attention diverted from the APS and the terrorists managed to enter the school, it added. The force patrolling the area moved towards the torched vehicle and the second team of security forces could not reach the school on time, the report said.
Moreover, the report also notes that the entire focus of security was the main gate with no one stationed in the backside which enabled the terrorists to enter the premises without any resistance. The number of personnel deputed for security was not enough to tackle the terrorists, it added.
