Malala grateful for global support

Published November 9, 2012

malala-reuters-670
Malala Yousufzai reads a card as she recuperates at the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in this undated handout photograph released to Reuters on Nov 8, 2012. — Photo by Reuters

LONDON: Malala, the teenager being treated in Britain for gunshot wounds inflicted by the Taliban in Pakistan, on Friday thanked her global supporters, one month on from the brutal attack.

“She wants me to tell everyone how grateful she is and is amazed that men, women and children from across the world are interested in her well-being,” said her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, on behalf of the 15-year-old.

“We deeply feel the heart-touching good wishes of the people across the world of all caste, colour and creed,” he said in a statement issued by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where Malala is being treated.

Her father added: “I am awfully thankful to all the peace-loving well-wishers who strongly condemn the assassination attempt on Malala, who pray for her health and support the grand cause of peace, education, freedom of thought and freedom of expression.”

The hospital on Friday published photos of Malala sitting and reading a book, while others showed her poring over get-well cards.

Armed men in Mingora, the main town in the Swat valley (northwest Pakistan), shot Malala in the head and shoulder on Oct 9 after stopping the school bus on which she was travelling.

The attack was claimed by the insurgent Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP), allied to Al Qaeda.

They claimed to have targeted Malala because of her “pioneering role” in calling for girls' education, and because of her general criticism of the Taliban.

The teenager was transferred on Oct15 to the central England hospital, which specialises in the treating British soldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

Opinion

Editorial

Missing links
Updated 27 Apr, 2024

Missing links

As the past decades have shown, the country has not been made more secure by ‘disappearing’ people suspected of wrongdoing.
Freedom to report?
27 Apr, 2024

Freedom to report?

AN accountability court has barred former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife from criticising the establishment...
After Bismah
27 Apr, 2024

After Bismah

BISMAH Maroof’s contribution to Pakistan cricket extends beyond the field. The 32-year old, Pakistan’s...
Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...