Toll hits 141; Embassy, Consulate in UAE observe mourning

Following orders from the government of Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai are observing a three-day mourning period in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack on a Peshawar school on Tuesday, said a press statement.

The Pakistani flag is being flown at half mast, and all scheduled festive events have been postponed. A condolence book has been opened at the Embassy and will be available for signature from 1100 hours to1500 hour from December 17 to 19.

A condolence meeting of the Pakistani community will be held at the Embassy at 0930 hours on Thursday December 18.

A condolence book has also been opened at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai which will be available for signature from 1400 hours to 1600 hours on December 18 and 19.

‘Ghaibana Namaz-e-Jinaza’ prayer is being held at the residence of the Consul General on Wednesday December 17  at 4 pm followed by condolence meeting and a candle light vigil at 4.30 pm.

UAE residents express shock

Residents in the UAE are calling Pakistan's bloodiest ever terror attack an act of 'cowardice', even as social media sees people come out in solidarity for students killed.
 
The Peshawar school attack left 141 people dead, including 132 students and nine staff members.

Pakistani journalists light candles for the victims of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar, in Karachi on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
Leaders around the world have come out to condemn the attack, with Pakistan declaring three days of national mourning, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all schools in the country to observe two minutes of silence in memory of the children and staff killed on December 16.
 
Across the UAE, residents have come out in support for Pakistan, which reels from the deadliest terror attack on its soil.

Pakistani female activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) light candles for the victims of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar, in Karachi on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
"Shameless cowards, that’s what they are," says Saira Khan, a Dubai resident with family based in Peshawar. "They entered the school in army fatigues, all under the guise of murdering innocent children. Whatever their cause, this is a heinous act that can not be excused under any circumstances.
 
"I pray for those children, for their families, especially those mothers who have lost their babies at the hands of such senseless hate."

Activists of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) light candles for the victims of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar, in Karachi on December 16, 2014. AFP
 
Usman Ali Faisal, a Sharjah resident, echoed the sentiment, saying: "This reminds us of the gruesome attack on Malala Yousafzai. The Taliban may say otherwise, but this is an act of cowardice, plain and simple.
 
“The political turmoil in the country has dug a grave and now our children are being put to rest in them. It is time people fight back in the name of our future generations.”

Pakistani female activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) light candles for the victims of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar, in Karachi on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
Bilal Masood, who, like several other members on social media, has changed his profile picture to black in a show of solidarity for the fallen, says: "They are saying, 'the smallest coffins and the heaviest to carry.' As a father, I feel this pain. As a parent, I feel this horror.
 
"What they did was an act no religion, no community, no sane person could ever condone. Humanity died with those children. We stand and weep with those left behind."

Members of Pakistani civil society and journalists light candles for the victims of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar, in Islamabad on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
Australian national, Shireen Ismail said: "First my home in Sydney. Now my ancestral home, my Pakistan. This is the face of terrorism today, and this is real.
 
"But I refuse to call the fallen martyrs. They did not die for a cause; they were murdered. It’s time leaders fight the terror in their backyards."

Pakistani mourners carry the coffin of a student during his funeral following an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
Natasha Javed added: "And this is why Malala is a hero. Once again terrorists prepared graves of young innocent children. Cannot see this anymore."

Twitter user Maiza Hameed resonated the feeling, saying: "Unless we don’t curb extremism things will go on like this. We haven’t learnt anything from what happened to Malala."

Pakistani Shiite Muslims offer funeral prayers of school attack victim in Peshawar on December 16, 2014. (AFP)
 
Waqaas Hussain also tweeted: "Terrorism doesn’t have any religion; targeting school kids and killing more than 20 of them is an all time low."
 
Imtiaz Ali Turi tweeted: "It is blackest day for Pakistan that Peshawar was stained in blood of our innocent children and our hearts are bleeding."
 
Ali A Rizvi said: "Don’t defend the faith of the victims. Defend the victims of the faith." 

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