RAWALPINDI, Oct 25: Malala Yousufzai’s parents, brother and a relative flew to Birmingham from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on board a PIA flight on Thursday amid reports that the 14-year-old education activist had been responding well to treatment in a British hospital, sources said.

Malala, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in Mingora, was flown to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Oct 15.

Her father Ziauddin, mother Atoor, bother Atal and a relative flew to the British city onboard the PIA flight PK-791 at 12.45pm.

AP adds: Mr Ziauddin vowed that his daughter would return home after finishing medical treatment despite new insurgent threats against her.

Since she was shot on Oct 9 at Mingora, Malala has become a hero both at home and internationally, although her work in speaking out against Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education has long been respected and known beyond her native Swat Valley.

The comments by her father were recorded by Pakistani Television.

The Taliban have vowed to kill Malala, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return but her father dispelled reports the family might seek asylum abroad.

“I first laughed at it because all of our sacrifices, my personal (sacrifices), or this attack on my daughter, cannot have such a cheap purpose that we would go to some other country and live the rest of our life there,” he said.

Malala’s father spoke alongside Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the latter’s office in Islamabad.

Mr Malik promised that the government would protect Malala and her family when they returned. He said Malala had asked her father to bring some of her school books with him when he went to Britain.

“Even while sitting there she is taking care of her schooling,” said Mr Malik.

Malala has started talking and has spoken to both of her parents by phone, the minister said.

The medical team caring for Malala said in a statement on Thursday that she was comfortable and continued to respond well to treatment.

Sattar visits Malala: The deputy convener of the Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement and federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Dr Farooq Sattar, visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital and inquired after the health of Malala Yousufzai. He presented a bouquet to Malala and conveyed the best wishes of MQM chief Altaf Hussain to her.

The doctors looking after the young education campaigner informed Mr Sattar that she was recovering speedily and had started to walk, said an MQM press release.

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...