Malala Yousafzai, an international education activist and Nobel Prize winner, travelled to Pakistan even as a school bus was attacked in her native Swat. During the course of the attack, the driver of the bus was killed and a child was injured. The people of the area say that they expect Malala to talk to the authorities about the security of the area.
There was a protest against the terrorist incident in Swat and private schools were also closed on Tuesday. People belonging to Swat say that Malala is a world-renowned activist and they expect that the youngest Nobel price winner would say something about the unrest in her native region.
Social activist Usman Ulasyar says that people are happy about Malala’s arrival and it would have a significant impact on the rise point of militancy in her native land if she were to stay there for some time. But he acknowledges the challenges she faces, not least of which is security. “But it is a bad thing that an activist known all over the world can go anywhere but not go home,” he added.
He continued that it is a matter of regret, and it is a matter of consideration for the institutions of Pakistan.
Speaking to The Friday Times – NayaDaur, he said that Malala came to Pakistan in a situation where she was attacked 10 years ago, and the same situation has arisen today. The authorities are being questioned widely as to why there is so much chaos of militancy in Swat.
In Swat of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a school-childrens’ car was shot at. According to the police, the driver of the car was killed, and a child was injured. This incident happened on 10 October in the morning.
There have been two incidents of firing in two districts of Malakand Division, Lower Dir and Swat. In both incidents, school vans have come under fire, a total of six children have been injured and a driver killed. The incident in Lower Dir is personal enmity, says DIG Malakand, “In Swat’s Gullibagh area, a vehicle carrying school children has been targeted, where the driver is killed, and two children have been injured. We are still in the process of investigating whether it’s an incident of terrorism or enmity,” DIG continues.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has distanced itself from the firing on school vans in Swat and Lower Dir. In a statement, the group says that such incidents are portrayed as attacks by the TTP to sabotage the peace in the area, “our targets are known.”
He said, “Malala has discussed the security of the region with the Prime Minister and the rulers of Pakistan and now we expect that Malala Yousafzai will still say a word on the ongoing situation in Swat for the clarification of her position.”
Khurshid Kakaji, Swat Qaumi Jirga spokesperson and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party provincial president, says that Malala is the daughter of Swat and she had returned to help out the flooded people, “but Pakhtunkhwa is not only facing the atrocities of flood but militancy is also on its peak.” He added that they expect Malala to play her part for the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Swat – especially in terms of development and peace.
Dr. Irfan Ashraf, teacher of journalism department at Peshawar University, says that Malala’s story will be heard all over the world, and that “she will talk about the floods, but in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, militancy has started. This is a matter of concern.”
He further said, “The other concern is that there was an attack in Swat yesterday, while Malala came to Pakistan. So, this is not a good thing, and it is making the people of Swat appear as though they were hostage to TTP.”
Malala Yousafzai recently met the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif during the United Nations General Assembly and said, “In my meeting with the Prime Minister, I shared my concern about the reappearance of the Pakistani Taliban in Swat and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Our people cananot tolerate any more terrorism and harassment, they should be protected, justice and peaceful life is the right of everyone in Pakistan.”
She also said that she asked the Prime Minister to put more pressure on the Taliban in Afghanistan to allow girls to go to schools and women to go to work.
Malala Yousafzai added that Pakistan should stand for women’s rights and women’s education.
Her native area of Swat had reports of armed men appearing in the month of August.
Meanwhile people are protesting against the terrorist attack in different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
