'This is murder and criminality of the worst form which is beyond human beings, but people still think that these murderers, known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are human beings,' says Mohammad Tahseen from Lahore.
The Peshawar school attack has reminded me yet again that we in Pakistan are living with animals: Blood thirsty man eaters. The animals created by our rulers are now being fed on our children's blood!
I am convinced that we have to go through this agony as there is no other way. And we have to fight and crush them for good.
It is a very sad day in Pakistan today. I am agonised and sad to hear the awful act of barbarism in the school and do not find appropriate words to share my feelings of sorrow with the parents, families and friends of these students. It must be more than the hell for them.
I, as a parent of two children, can feel the pain of these families whose children have been killed and wounded. I cry for them.
This is murder and criminality of the worst form which is beyond human beings, but people still think that these murderers, known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are human beings. No wonder 'they' were having peace talks with these animals till Monday. And mind you 'they' speak the same language!
What else? We felt the pain when Malala Yousufzai was attacked in Swat, we cried when her book was not allowed to be launched at Peshawar university by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we were bewildered when more than two dozen young girls (ranging between the age of 5 to 12 years) from Bajaur were recovered from the madrassas of Karachi. One does not know how many more such young girls are there with the madrassa mafia for business purposes.
Enough! I think we have paid more than the price of creating and nurturing these animals amongst us. It is time now to rout them for good.
My heart goes out to the sons and daughters of Pakistan faced with what is undoubtedly the most tragic day. All the more reason that we continue our work and work hard, no matter how challenging the situation is.
We will win.
Image: Schoolchildren run away from the school that was attacked by Taliban terrorists in Peshawar.
Photograph: Khuram Parvez/Reuters
Mohammad Tahseen is a social worker and human rights activist based in Lahore.
