By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 18 December 2014:
The Pakistani ambassador in Tripoli, Javed Zia, has thanked Libyans as well as diplomats based . . .[restrict]in Tripoli for their expressions of sympathy and condolences following Tuesday’s massacre by the Taliban of 132 schoolchildren and nine adults at a school in Peshawar.
“I would like to thank all the Libyan brothers and sisters who didn’t hesitate to show their full solidarity and sympathy to their brothers and sisters of Pakistan”, he told the Libya Herald, also adding his thanks to those diplomats in Tripoli who signed book of condolence at his embassy.
There were strong bonds between Libya and his country, he said, and the Pakistani community – he put it at 10,000-strong – had not left during the current political crisis.
The Pakistani school in Tripoli had launched a “candle vigil” that would continue for the next three days in memory of those who had been murdered, he said. “Students will pray for their lost sisters and brothers and a Koran recitation will take place at the school. Special prayers will also take place in mosques and churches in Tripoli,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan had made strong headway in the international war against terrorism, the ambassador stressed. “The backbone of the terrorists have been broken. They are no longer able to fight in the field so instead they target innocent civilians.”
Although Pakistan had already lost 50,000 lives in the war with terrorism, this latest attack was one of the worst incidents Pakistan has suffered but it would result in greater resolve by his country to defeat the terrorists, he declared.
He also added that in Libya’s present situation Pakistan would stand “shoulder to shoulder with its Libyan brothers. We pray for the peace and stability in Libya and earliest resolution of all conflicts”.
Pakistan was already providing educational and medical support in Libya, he added, and hoped to further build on this.
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