Muhammad Sami (Peon)

Age: 22
Son of Shamsur Rehman
and Asia Bibi
Siblings: Saeeda (27),
Zainab (23), Rani (18),
Amanullah (18), Sidra Gul
(16) and Atiq Ur Rehman
(8)

Muhammad Sami (Peon)

Sami began to work at a young age due to extreme poverty.
His father suered from cancer, and Sami set out to work
when he was just a young boy to support the family and
pay medical bills. His father passed away in the year 2000.

He had been performing his duty at APS for eight years till
the day he was killed. His mother says Sami did not enjoy his
youth like other children. He had to be the man of the
house. Despite the huge responsibility of an entire household
on his young shoulders, Sami never lost his temper with his
brothers and sisters.

After his death, Samis family is shattered. His mother misses

her son terribly, and wishes he would ask her to cook qeema.
His siblings who live at home are in dire poverty as the sole
breadwinner of the family is no longer there.

Ehsanullah (Driver)
Age: 22
Son of Zainullah and
Saleema Bibi
Children: Yasirullah (3)
and Muhammad Yousaf (5
months)

Ehsanullah (Driver)
Ehsanullah joined APS just 10 days before the attack.
On that gruesome day, he helped shift 40 injured
children into ambulance before the attackers
killed him.
He was the proud father of a three-year-old and a
newborn. He wanted his kids to grow up and study at
the same school where he was employed. He dreamt
that they would be doctors. His family says he was a
responsible man who took care of his loved ones. They
all felt like they could count on him.

He didnt always want to be a driver. He tried to set up

a small business on two occasions but had to wind up
owing to losses. His children, parents and wife are in
shock. They cannot accept that the centre of their
world is no longer with them.

Hafsa Khush (teacher)

Age: 23
Daughter of Prof. Khush
Muhammad
Siblings: Muhammad Anas
Khan (27) and Javeria (23)

Hafsa Khush (teacher)

An intelligent and determined woman, Hafsa began
working at the Army Public School in 2013. Her brother
Anas remembers her as very kind and responsible. She
was close to her mother and was engaged to be
married.

Not only did she have excellent command on her

subject, Hafsas students remember her as someone
who wouldnt leave class without clarifying her pupils
concepts. Her father, who is still shaken from Hafsas
death, remembers how his daughter wanted to pursue
a Ph.D. and was interested in an academic career.

Despite having a chance to save herself and leave the

premises, Hafsa chose to stay back to help injured
students. It is during this time that she was shot and
killed.

Muhammad Hussain(Gardener)
Age: 24
Son of Shamsher Khan
and Saira Bibi
Children: Hina (7), Iqra (5)
and Aneesa (3)

Muhammad Hussain (Gardener)

Muhammad Hussain served as gardener in the Army
Public School (APS) for a period of seven years. After
his passing in the Peshawar massacre, his brother
Naheed Khan was oered the job that he took. Naheed
says he got to know much more about his brother from
his colleagues in the APS who all found Hussain an
amicable and honest fellow.

Hussain was a hard working man, his brother recalls,

saying how after his gardening job at the APS, he
would return home and go to work as a farmer in the
elds. Hussain enjoyed playing cricket and was good in
the game.

Hussain leaves behind a widow and three children. His

wife still asks why her husband was killed and his
father appears broken at the death of his young son.

Sadia Gul Khattak (teacher)

Age: 24
Daughter of Gul Shahzad
Khattak and Zulikha Bibi
Siblings: Hamayun
Shahzad, Amir Shahzad,
Aarif Shahzad, Asim
Shahzad, Tayyada Gul,
Uzma Gul

Sadia Gul Khattak (teacher)

An English teacher at the Army Public school for ve
months, Sadia had completed a Masters in English and
a Bachelors in Education at the University of Peshawar.
Her father, who is also a professor, was her mentor. She
would always consult him before making any big
decisions.
She was a jovial, fun loving person. Her friends say she
loved to hang out with them and talk. They would meet
up daily and go for a walk together.
Her students say she was a wonderful teacher and that
her command over the English language was
impressive.
Her family says they are broken after her passing. They
miss Sadia terribly.

Mudassar Khan(lab assistant)

Age: 25
Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Muhammad Khan
Siblings: Sher Khan (23),
Anas Khan (21), Umar Khan
(19), Gulnaz (18), Afshan
(15) and Fatima (10).

Mudassar Khan(lab assistant)

A native of Swat valley, Mudassar had a Diploma in
Clinical Pathology and a Masters in Pashto from the
University of Peshawar. He was passionate about
Pashto poetry and often penned romantic couplets
which he would share on social media.

He was the eldest amongst his siblings and the sole

bread winner of his family. For this reason, he had
left his village to work.

He got engaged 15 days before he was killed. His

uncle describes him as a respectful and responsible
member of the family, who never hurt a soul. His
family is broken by his death and missed him dearly.

Hajra Sharif (teacher)

Age: 28
Daughter of Muhammad
Sharif and Israr Bibi
Siblings: Ruman Nissah
(37), Muhammad Amin
(35), Bibi Aamna (34),
Abrarul Amin (32), Samina
Parveen (30) and Shahid
Amin (25)

Hajra Sharif (teacher)

A chemistry teacher at APS, Hajra Sharif had the
knack of controlling a class eectively, and was very
well-rounded in her subject, her colleagues say. She
was helpful and polite to work with, and proved her
mettle in a very short time.
Her students share that even though chemistry was a
dull and boring subject, they thoroughly enjoyed her
lectures and never bunked her classes.
According to Hajras siblings, she emphasised a
great deal on womens education, and her aim was
to open a girls school in Karak.
Her brother says that she was his mentor and it was
as per her wish that he joined APS.

Benish Umer (teacher)

Age: 30
Wife of Umer Zeb Butt
Children: Hibbah Umer (5),
Annaya Umer (3) and Aaf
Umer (1)

Benish Umer (teacher)

A loving wife and a caring mother, teaching was
Benishs mission in life. Her husband Umer recalls that
it was Benishs tenacity that helped the family maintain
discipline. He remembers Benish preparing breakfast,
helping him out with work clothes and then leaving for
school on the day of the massacre.

A kind woman, after her family, Benish gave the most

amount of time to her students and treated them like
her own children. She also felt strongly about girls
education and used to say that educating women was
critical for the countrys prosperity.

Her husband recalls that Benish had the chance to get

out safely during the attack but chose to stay back so
she could administer rst aid to the injured students.
This is when she was shot.

Muhammad Bilal (Guard)

Age: 32
Son of Pervaiz Shah
Children: Abbas (3.5)
and Hanan (6 months
old).

Muhammad Bilal (Guard)

Bilal and his wife were expecting their second child
when he was killed. His wife has named her newborn
Hanan, because her husband loved that name.
He was attacked by the terrorists when they saw him
helping children escape from a back exit.
He was a loving father. He wanted the best for his son
Abbas, and dreamt that he would become a doctor
some day.
He was a good sportsman and regularly played cricket
with the APS students. He was strong, and was able to
hit long sixes.
His wife and parents miss their beloved Bilal. His
youngest will never know her father.

Sahar Afshan (teacher)

Age: 33
Daughter of Noor Raziq
(late) and Shamim Akhter
Siblings: Fawad Gul (35)

Sahar Afshan (teacher)

Sahar was helping evacuate students when the
attackers targeted her. She joined APS in 2006 as an
Urdu teacher. She had completed a Masters in Urdu
from the University of Peshawar and was also pursuing
MPhil. As a result of her commitment and hard work,
she was promoted to the senior section shortly after
she joined.
She was a role model for her family. Her siblings
aspired to be disciplined like her. Her colleagues still
cannot believe that she is gone. Her beautiful smiling
face and pleasant voice echoes in their ears. She loved
to get friends together for delicious food and gupshup.
Her students say she was soft spoken and helpful and
that she had a passion for her subject. She often
arranged Urdu debating competitions and coached the
students.

Farhat Bibi (teacher)

Age: 39

Children: Syed Sitwat Ali

Shah (18) and Syed Baqir
Naqqi (15)

Farhat Bibi (teacher)

Theres a palpable void in Farhat Bibis newly
constructed house. Widowed husband Abid Ali Shah
and sons Baqir and Sitwat are still numb with grief as
they recall memories of the cast-iron superwoman in
their lives.
She held the position of Urdu teacher at APS for three
years until her death. Her prolic academic
qualications included an MA in Arabic, MA in Islamiat,
an M.Ed and a B.Ed. She was also a Haz-e-Quran. As a
social worker, Bibi was committed to helping poor and
needy people. Her sister, Abida Bibi, remembers her as
someone completely devoted to her family.
Farhat was an experimental cook and enjoyed making
new dishes for her husband and sons. She was fond of
tours and picnics and often organized outings for the
family.

Saima Zareen (teacher)

Age: 39
Daughter of Anwar Jamal
Wife of Tariq Saeed

Saima Zareen (teacher)

Saima Zareen had been teaching English at the APS for 17
years. She had completed her M.Phil in Education and was
pursuing a Ph.D in Education. She was the mother of two
girls aged 20 and 13.
She loved to teach and learn. She would return from
school every day at 3pm, eat her lunch and head to her
university to study till 7pm. She would then come home
and prepare dinner for the family.
Her students describe her as soft spoken and kind, while
enforcing discipline at the same time.
The day of the attack, Saima rushed into the auditorium to
save injured students. As she made her way in and out of
the room, she was apprehended by one attacker. She was
shot dead and her body set on re. Her husband vows to
continue her dream, to teach. He misses her dearly.

Akbar Zaman (Head Clerk)

Age: 40
Husband of Bibi Rabia
Children: Tahir Zaman (16),
Anwar Zaman (14),
Mohammad Zaman
and Ahmad Khan

Akbar Zaman (Head Clerk)

Akbar was a very pleasant man, says his widow,
Bibi Rabia. He had a soft disposition and would
always advise his sons to avoid disputes.

Akbar had joined the Pakistan Armys Electrical

& Mechanical Engineering dept in 1983 as a clerk
and moved to Army Public School after retiring in
2006.

He was admired by his entire village and even now

he is fondly remembered. Akbar had made it a point
to bring back gifts from Peshawar for all the kids in
the family when he would visit native Lakki Marwat
for holidays. He was as a highly-dedicated employee
who gave his life while performing his duty.

Zahir Shah (Gardener)

Age: 40
Son of Zaz Muhammad
and Yahi Gul
Husband of Momina Bibi
Siblings: Muhammad
Sharif, Abdur Rauf, Bushra
Bibi, Khayal Muhammad
and Muhammad Zahid.

Zahir Shah (Gardener)

Zahir Shah began working at APS a year before the
massacre. He served the school devotedly and would
advise students to study hard whenever he interacted with
them. His nephew Shafqat says Zahir had studied up to
F.A. but couldnt carry on due to nancial problems.

Zahir got married nearly 12 years ago and didnt have any
children but loved his nephews and nieces as if his own.
He was particularly close to his 4-year-old nephew Waqas
and would look after him as his own child.

Although Zahir didnt earn much, he was always mindful

of the needs of his family and always tried to get other,
better jobs. His nephew remembers him as a soft-spoken
man with a kind heart.

Mohammad Shaq (clerk)

Age: 41
Son of Mohammad Sadiq
Children: Children: Saqib
(8), Yusra (7), Aa (5)
and Fareeha (2)

Mohammad Shaq (clerk)

Shaq was the head clerk at APS since 1996. He was
jokingly called the pioneer employee of the school.
His brother says Shaq was an honest and hard
working member of the school sta. He loved and
cared for the students with all his heart. He longed for
his children to have a good education.

After school, he would drive a taxi to earn extra money

to support his family. Two of his children are now
studying at APS.

The day of the attack, Shaq was busy evacuating

terried students when he was gunned down. He had
made his third trip back into the school during the
rescue operation when he was struck.

Nawab Ali (teacher)

Age: 42
Son of Fazal Rabani and
Husn Zaiba.
Children: Faizan (13),
Habiba Gul (10)
and Ayesha (9).

Nawab Ali (teacher)

Nawab was a self-made man. When he was a
student, he would work after school to earn money
for his school fees. He was a math genius, and was
popular in his hometown Charsadda for his math
skills. He joined APS as a math teacher in 2000.

His wife says he was a wonderful husband and also a

loving and responsible father. His daughter Ayesha
says he used to take joy in celebrating her birthday
and get her dolls. She says he had a smiling face.

His colleagues, too, remember him fondly and recall

the many instances when he would treat them to
shola chawal a Charsadda specialty.

Sajjad Ali (Superintendent)

Age: 42
Son of Ejaz Ali (Late) and
Talat Sajjad
Children: Fahad Ali (4.5)
and Faizan Ali (10)

Sajjad Ali (Superintendent)

Sajjad Ali served at the APS for 10 years. His nephew
Mudasser tells how the sta at the school as well as
Sajjads relatives admired him.

An amicable man, Mudasser recalls how Sajjad was

regarded as a peace maker by members of the family and
would resolve any conicts that would develop among his
relatives.

Sajjads colleague Imran remembers him as a diligent

man, saying it was due to his hard work that the regional
coordinating oice was declared the best in the country.

Sajjad leaves behind a widow and two sons. His older son
Faizan, who is 10 years of age, misses his father terribly.

Shahnaz Naeem (teacher)

Age: 42
Wife of Dr Naeem Mumtaz
Children: Mashaal Naeem
(19), Omamma Naeem (16)
and Unnas Naeem (14)

Shahnaz Naeem (teacher)

Teaching at APS since 1994, Shahnaz was
a dedicated teacher who has left many a colleague
and students mourning. Regarded as an inspiring
teacher, Shahnaz was also a loving wife and a
devoted mother who managed family life just as
well.

Shahnaz put great emphasis on education and the

studies of her own children. She wanted them to
become doctors like their father. Her husband
Naeem remembers her as a simple and loving
woman who loved arranging family get-togethers.

Her colleagues say she considered them and her

students as family. She took care of everyone.

Soa Hijab (teacher)

Age: 42
Wife of Advocate Amjid
Sohail
Children: Tatheer Zahra
(17) and Farwa Agha (13)

Soa Hijab (teacher)

Remembered by her daughters as their best friend,
Soa Hijab was a devoted mother and a hardworking teacher.

She started teaching at APS as a junior teacher

barely two years ago but her hard work led
to promotion as a senior in a short span of time.
Kind to her students, Soa is remembered as softspoken but uncompromising when it came to
academics.

Her husband says she was present in the auditorium

during the attack but had managed to exit safely. But
that is when she decided to go back for her students.
She pulled out many of those injured before the
attackers killed her.

Pervaiz Akhter (lab assistant)

Age: 50
Husband of
Sajida Parveen.
Children: Wasim Pervaiz
(21), Umme Kalsoom (20),
Saleem (19) and Raheem
(14).

Pervaiz Akhter (lab assistant)

Pervaiz worked at APS as a lab assistant for 20
years. He was utterly devoted to the school, and
students remember him as honest and dedicated.

According to his children he was a soft hearted

father. Despite his limited salary he fullled all
their demands. He always hoped his kids would
get quality education and earn a name for
Pakistan.

He had a good command of Pashto, Punjabi and

Urdu. He also recited the Quran and taught Islamic
principles to whoever was willing to listen.

Muhammad Saeed (teacher)

Age: 53
Son of Muhammad Safdar
Khan
Husband of Ayesha Bano
Children: Rimsha Saeed
(19), Hajra Saeed (17),
Naima Saeed (15),
Muhammad Talha (12)
and Muhammad Anas (10).

Muhammad Saeed (teacher)

Saeed had been teaching Islamiat at APS for nine
years. Holding an MA, he is described by students as
a good teacher who was soft-spoken and kind. He
was an advocate of womens education. Many of his
past students went on to serve in the army.

When the army launched an operation in Swat,

Saeed invited three displaced people into his home
and gave them food and shelter for three months.

When the attackers struck, he advised students to

stay calm and helped them. His parents, wife and
ve children miss him dearly and pray for him to rest
in eternal peace.

Tahira Qazi (Principal)

Age: 64
Daughter of Qazi Hayat
Ullah Khan
Wife of Lft Col. (retd) Qazi
Zafar Ullah Khan
Children: Arifa Qazi (32 ),
Imran Ullah Qazi (30)
and Ahmed Ullah Qazi
(24)

Tahira Qazi (Principal)

Tahira Qazi joined the Army Public School in 1995 as
head of English Department and in 2006 she took
charge as the principal of the school.

She was not only a devoted teacher who cared deeply

for her students but also a loving wife, mother and
friend, Tahiras husband recalls.She dedicated 37
years to educating children and in the end laid down
her life to the cause.

She maintained a very sober exterior but was in fact a

very soft-hearted person, her family says. According to
a student injured in the APS attack, Tahiras last words
were: They are my children and I am their mother.