<p>A shocked Pakistan today began three days of national mourning as mass funerals got underway for over 140 people, mostly children, massacred by Taliban suicide attackers in horrendous terror attack on a school here.<br /><br />All educational institutions were closed in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, of which Peshawar is the capital, in the aftermath of the tragedy that has shaken the world.<br />The national flag was flying at half-mast due to three days of mourning announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.</p>.<p>In rest of the country, most of the schools were open where silence was observed during the morning gatherings.</p>.<p>Candle-lit vigils were observed in different cities, including the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, to condemn the attack and express sympathy with the bereaved families.<br /><br />Mass funeral got underway and people from all walks of condemned the attack. Politicians also joined hands to stand up against terror. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers.<br /><br />The Taliban said the attack was revenge for a military offensive against their safe havens in the northwest, along the border with Afghanistan, which began in June.<br />The terror act had brought condemnation even from the close allies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban who claimed responsibility of the attack.<br /><br />Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement said that his group sympathised with the victims.<br /><br />These militants seldom in the past issued a statement over the attacks in Pakistan.<br />Pakistan Taliban militants led by Mullah Fazlullah consider Mullah Omer, chief of Afghan Taliban, as their supreme leader.</p>.<p>At least 148 people, including 132 students, were brutally killed by militants who stormed the Army Public School yesterday.</p>.<p>Gunmen had walked from class to class shooting students in the Pakistani Taliban's deadliest attack to date.<br /><br />Prime Minister Sharif announced an end to the moratorium on the death penalty for terrorism cases, which correspondents say is a move aimed at countering a view held by many Pakistanis that many terror suspects end up evading justice.<br />World leaders have also voiced disgust at the attack.</p>
<p>A shocked Pakistan today began three days of national mourning as mass funerals got underway for over 140 people, mostly children, massacred by Taliban suicide attackers in horrendous terror attack on a school here.<br /><br />All educational institutions were closed in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, of which Peshawar is the capital, in the aftermath of the tragedy that has shaken the world.<br />The national flag was flying at half-mast due to three days of mourning announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.</p>.<p>In rest of the country, most of the schools were open where silence was observed during the morning gatherings.</p>.<p>Candle-lit vigils were observed in different cities, including the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, to condemn the attack and express sympathy with the bereaved families.<br /><br />Mass funeral got underway and people from all walks of condemned the attack. Politicians also joined hands to stand up against terror. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers.<br /><br />The Taliban said the attack was revenge for a military offensive against their safe havens in the northwest, along the border with Afghanistan, which began in June.<br />The terror act had brought condemnation even from the close allies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban who claimed responsibility of the attack.<br /><br />Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement said that his group sympathised with the victims.<br /><br />These militants seldom in the past issued a statement over the attacks in Pakistan.<br />Pakistan Taliban militants led by Mullah Fazlullah consider Mullah Omer, chief of Afghan Taliban, as their supreme leader.</p>.<p>At least 148 people, including 132 students, were brutally killed by militants who stormed the Army Public School yesterday.</p>.<p>Gunmen had walked from class to class shooting students in the Pakistani Taliban's deadliest attack to date.<br /><br />Prime Minister Sharif announced an end to the moratorium on the death penalty for terrorism cases, which correspondents say is a move aimed at countering a view held by many Pakistanis that many terror suspects end up evading justice.<br />World leaders have also voiced disgust at the attack.</p>