By Lasia Kretzel

Saskatoon mourns Pakistani school attack victims

Dec 20, 2014 | 7:41 AM

Arisha Nazir says the entire Saskatoon Pakistani community is at a loss for words.

“It just hits me in waves now. I’m just sitting there and it will just come to me and I’ll honestly just start tearing up,” she said, describing the pain she feels following a horrific Taliban school massacre in Pakistan this week that killed 148, most of them children.

Nazir was among 70 Pakistani and Muslim Saskatoon residents who came together Friday at Saskatoon Misbah School to mourn the loss of 132 children who were killed when the gunman stormed a military-run school in Peshawar and opened fire. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan , a militant group bent on overthrowing the government, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Standing beneath a large pine tree, huddled in a semi-circle for warmth and comfort, women and men wiped away tears as prayers and words of solidarity were shared at the candle-lit vigil.

Nazir said they hoped the vigil would bring attention to the massacre which has already captured headlines around the world.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

1h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

6h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

22h ago

“It’s painful. When we see children everywhere, it’s just heartbreaking,” vigil organizer Faizah Jamil said, adding they wanted to offer a place and time for people to grieve and find comfort.

Jamil said the acts of the militants responsible do not reflect her beliefs as a Muslim.

“I’m done trying to tell people that’s not us because I’m not to blame and neither is my religion,” she said.

Saskatoon’s vigil one of many held Friday

In schools across Pakistan, special classes were held Friday, with schoolchildren chanting prayers in memory of the victims of the Taliban slaughter. In mosques throughout the country, worshippers also offered special prayers for the massacred innocents in Peshawar.

Funerals for those killed in the attacks began on Tuesday.

On Friday, Pakistan stepped up an offensive against the militants in the country’s northwest and hanged two convicted militants – the country’s first executions in years – after the government reinstated the death penalty in response to the attacks.

-With files from the Associated Press

news@panow.com 

On Twitter:@princealbertnow