UK trip: Zardari to visit Malala at Birmingham hospital

Foreign office officials say the president is specially travelling to meet the teenage activist.


Kamran Yousaf December 06, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


President Asif Ali Zardari will visit the United Kingdom on Saturday to meet 14-year-old peace activist Malala Yousafzai, who is being treated at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, sources told The Express Tribune.


Foreign office officials, terming the visit as an unprecedented gesture by President Zardari, because the president did not have any diplomatic engagements in the UK other than meeting Malala.

President Zardari who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will meet Malala following a visit to Iran, a source privy to the president’s travel itinerary said.

Malala, who was shot while riding a school bus on October 9 in the Swat Valley, became the symbol of resistance against the Taliban, advocating access to education for girls in an area that has been one of the Taliban’s main strongholds in the country.

President

Over the past months, the teenage activist has received messages of support from across the globe with some suggesting a Nobel Peace Prize for her. However, back at home certain right-wing elements accused her of being part of the US conspiracy to push Pakistan for a fresh military offensive in the tribal areas.

In a special message, President Zardari said Malala stands tall as a symbol of girls’ education and of defiance against those who wish to impose their obscurantist agenda behind the facade of religion.

To reinforce the idea that Malala represents the government of Pakistan, a special initiative has been launched to give free education to the children.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2012. 

COMMENTS (45)

Clear Black Bag | 11 years ago | Reply The most important question rises and this question rises here many suspects that why Zardari cancelled his Iran's visit suddenly and went to UK and then France whereas in Iran Zardari had to sign the agreements with Irani officials regarding overcoming the energy crises and gas pipeline's projects????????
HADI SAKEY | 11 years ago | Reply A visi to Malala in the hospital will justify his visit and also his TA/DA. What about his cronies? Who are they. No names no list of VVIPs. His visit to Malala will be just an eye wash to show it to the innocent people of Pakistan how humane he is.
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