The December 2014 massacre of 132 children and 10 staff members at the Army Public School in Peshawar was a terrorist atrocity that shook the nation to its core. Soon afterwards, the Army launched a military operation against the TTP terrorists, and leaders of all major political parties got together coming up with a consensus National Action Plan to counter the scourge of terrorism. But more than three years on, justice has remained elusive for the slain children’s distraught parents. They have been demanding a judicial inquiry into the carnage so those responsible for the horror got their due. Taking a suo motu notice of their demand, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar ordered on Wednesday an inquiry by a judicial commission under a judge of the Peshawar High Court. The commission has two months to complete its work.

Highlighting the importance of the judicial inquiry are reports that weeks before the massacre the National Counter Terrorism Authority had informed the authorities concerned about terrorists’ plans to attack an army-run educational institution, which could be the Peshawar APS. The intelligence information could not be more precise than that. Yet six heavily armed militants were not only able to enter a protected cantonment area where the school was located, but also take their time to cut short so many young lives. The SSG commandos did arrive on the scene and saved several lives, but many of the victims would still be alive had those responsible for security taken timely precautionary measures. Understandably, for the parents of victims it is a never-ending nightmare. Looking for justice, they have been tirelessly knocking on all doors, not knowing though who to hold responsible for such an inexcusable security failure. They have been blaming the provincial government for negligence, and also expressing concern that even after his arrest reported a year ago Ehsanullah Ehsan, who served as a spokesman for the TTP and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar terrorists, was not tried for his unforgivable crimes.

The importance of a judicial inquiry into the APS massacre cannot be welcomed enough. It is expected to identify those who failed to prevent the attack despite a serious security alert, and pin responsibility where it belongs. Also that heads will roll. That of course won’t take away the parents sense of loss, though it may give them some sort of a closure. It should also serve as a lesson for all concerned that in matters related to life and death there is no room for negligent behaviour. Every possible precautionary measure must be taken, leaving nothing to chance.