Taliban School Massacre: Head Boy at Pakistan School Speaks Out
By Tom Midlane @goldenlatrine
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Muneeb Ullah Shah had the narrowest of escapes when armed fighters stormed the school on December 16, 2014, killing 145 people - including 132 schoolchildren.
The 16-year-old student at the Army Public School in the Pakistani city of Peshawar - said the news of the attack on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris brought back memories of the massacre.
Muneeb watched some of his best friends die during the attack, and only survived himself by hiding in the bathroom of the school's staffroom for more than five hours with another pupil and a teacher.
He was also close to murdered principal Tahira Kazi Shaheed, referring to her as 'honestly just like my mother' and declaring her 'brave' for giving her life to try and protect her students.
Muneeb watched some of his best friends die during the attack, and only survived himself by hiding in the bathroom of the school's staffroom for more than five hours with another pupil and a teacher.
He was also close to murdered principal Tahira Kazi Shaheed, referring to her as 'honestly just like my mother' and declaring her 'brave' for giving her life to try and protect her students.
Muneeb is adamant that the terrorists were out to cause maximum loss of life, aiming their fire at the room's exits as the panicking students fled.
He said: "Everyone was rushing out of the auditorium. They started firing at two doors – one on the left hand side of the room, and the other on the right side. I went to the left door and as I going out, they started firing."
A single bullet grazed his upper left arm, ripping his white school shirt and breaking the skin - staining a patch of his white school shirt a lurid red.
Muneeb added: "My mind was not working. I ran to the staff room, one of the teachers was there and told me to hide in the washroom. Five to ten minutes later, there was some firing.
"I was very scared because I knew that meant the terrorists were nearby. They broke the door of the staff room, then they started firing, bombs were blasting, we were just praying to Allah.
"I thought 'this is my last moment'. I was praying. Every door and window was broken, there was nothing left but one door, which was the washroom door which was closed.
"The terrorists were shouting and giving instructions. We were there for five hours, when the Pakistani army started their search operation, we thought we had a chance of surviving, but there was still a lot of blasts, so my ears weren’t working."
A single bullet grazed his upper left arm, ripping his white school shirt and breaking the skin - staining a patch of his white school shirt a lurid red.
Muneeb added: "My mind was not working. I ran to the staff room, one of the teachers was there and told me to hide in the washroom. Five to ten minutes later, there was some firing.
"I was very scared because I knew that meant the terrorists were nearby. They broke the door of the staff room, then they started firing, bombs were blasting, we were just praying to Allah.
"I thought 'this is my last moment'. I was praying. Every door and window was broken, there was nothing left but one door, which was the washroom door which was closed.
"The terrorists were shouting and giving instructions. We were there for five hours, when the Pakistani army started their search operation, we thought we had a chance of surviving, but there was still a lot of blasts, so my ears weren’t working."
The teenager, who is planning to train as an engineer, was eventually rescued by the Pakistani Army after the last of the terrorists were killed - and was eventually able to relay word to his father, who fell to the floor with joy.
Muneeb said: "I was scared because I was considering that time my last moments. I was very much scared but thanks to Allah Almighty I'm safe.
"I cannot believe how I came out of it. We had no idea what to do, but we knew we couldn’t come out because the terrorists were standing there.
"The Pakistani Army shouted ‘Is there anyone in there?” We said 'yes, we are here, we are students.' They told us to come out. I was very scared, but deep in my mind I just knew to run, run very fast. We came to some commandos who were holding a position, and they gave us some directions, and at that point I knew I was safe.
"At 4.30 or 4.40pm we were rescued. It was a very hard day for me, as I lost many of my friends. My father was there and he was in search of my dead body. When I called him and told him I was safe, he was very happy and emotional and fell down.
"I was taken to hospital and my brother and father and relatives came to see me. I was so happy to see them, some were crying, some were happy, but I couldn’t believe that I was safe. I just didn’t think I would come out of the admin block. When I came home, my mother and sister were very happy."
The school is set to reopen once repair work is complete, and Muneeb is adamant that the militants will ultimately fail in their aims.
He said: "The thing is that the terrorists want us not to study and not to educate ourselves, so I think that we will defeat them.
"We, the students of Pakistan, will go to schools and will get education because everyone including me wants to serve for the country and to brighten the name of Pakistan.
"I was very sad because I lost my friends, I lost everyone. I lost my teachers, I lost my principal, a very-known woman – she gave her life for us, so I’m very proud of her. She was such a brave woman who gave her life for us. I’m very thankful to her.
"I’m also grateful to my Lord, Allah, that I'm okay and safe and in my own home and in the hands of police."