Malala Yousafzai receives bravery award

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by Taliban, has been awarded by World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Chairman Prince Ali Khan for her bravery and commitment to education for girls in adverse conditions in Swat, Pakistan.

She, who became the face of Pakistan’s struggle against the Taliban, is being treated at a Queen Elizabeth Hospital, England. Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK, S Zulfiqar Gardezi received the award on her behalf at the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords.

The Deputy High Commissioner said, “It is Malala or her family who should have received the award. In their absence, I will pass it on to her.”

Other recipients of award included a Bishop of London, a distinguished British Muslim Psychiatrist, a distinguished Turkish academic and MP, and eight year old Josh Altman, European Chess Bronze medalist.

Prince Ali Khan, Founder Chairman of the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation said the Foundation was aimed at recognizing outstanding work in various walks of life and to promote world peace and prosperity.

Malala, was attacked last month with two other girls while travelling home from school in the Swat valley. The gunman who boarded the van in which she was travelling asked for her by name before firing three shots at her. After a week, she was flown from Pakistan, via the United Arab Emirates in an air ambulance for treatment.

In early 2009, Malala wrote an anonymous blog about life under the Taliban, who had banned all girls in her area from attending school.

Former British Prime Minister and current UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown launched a United Nations petition in Yousafzai’s name, using the slogan “I am Malala” and demanding that all children worldwide be in school by the end of 2015.

Brown said he would hand the petition to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari in November. UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has announced that November 10 will be celebrated as Malala Day.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=35187

Posted by Web Desk on Nov 20 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.