Malala Yousufzai. PHOTO: AFP
The 16-year-old, who was shot by the Taliban for championing girls' right to an education, claimed she retained the support of people in her homeland, and reiterated her desire to enter Pakistani politics. The activist was shot in the head on her school bus on October 9 last year for speaking out against the Taliban.
She was flown for specialist care in Britain, where she has continued her education, while she has been feted and honoured in the West. On Thursday, she won the European Union's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize, while US President Barack Obama welcomed her to the White House on Friday.
Asked in a BBC television interview broadcast Sunday about some people in Pakistan thinking she was a "figure of the West" and "a Westerner now", she said:
"My father says that education is neither Eastern or Western. Education is education: it's the right of everyone."
"The thing is that the people of Pakistan have supported me. They don't think of me as Western. I am a daughter of Pakistan and I am proud that I am a Pakistani."
"On the day when I was shot, and on the next day, people raised the banners of 'I am Malala'. They did not say 'I am Taliban'."
"They support me and they are encouraging me to move forward and to continue my campaign for girls' education."
She highlighted the problem of education in the midst of the Syrian conflict.
"We want to help every child in every country that we can," she said.
"We will start from Pakistan and Afghanistan and Syria now, especially because they are suffering the most and they are on the top that need our help.
"Later on in my life I want to do politics and I want to become a leader and to bring the change in Pakistan."
"I want to be a politician in Pakistan because I don't want to be a politician in a country which is already developed."
COMMENTS (101)
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You aren't one according to liberals. But guess what they are TWO percent of population.
I agree with the comments of Mr. Jamshad Dasti, MNA
@Muhammad Afzal: @Unkown: @A-No.1: @broken chooza: @Malik: Congratulations.You made it into Newsweek,right there with Taliban.Pakistan should be "Proud" of you.You made it look like a country lurching somewhere around seventh century AD.You did exactly what you accused Malala of .Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newsweek make stories from the comments made by people on ET. I didn't know that before.
http://www.newsweek.com/malala-yousafzai-backlash-intensifies-pakistan-308
If Malala is indeed so patriotic, why don't I see any interviews from here in her native tongue....
@Talha Rizvi:
I’m touched that you are so concerned about Pakistan.
Sir, allow me to correct this impression. I am not so concerned about Pakistan, I am more concerned about non-Pakistanis being blamed for the acts of Pakistan and Pakistanis. Coming to the list of your grievances, I personally do not hold Pakistanis responsible for no. 1 to 5 nor have I seen anyone else doing so. About no 6 i.e. the question of Arabic descent, why don't you refer to the Pakistan Study textbooks which convey that life in these parts began with the arrival of Muhammad Bin Kasim? If you are still confused refer to Mr Zaid Hamid and Oraya Jan Mqbool too.
@Maula Jatt:
Your comment highlights the religious nationalist defensive mindset.
Abuse or demonize Islam how? By factually describing Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militancy, condemning Taliban or dismissing Aafia Siddiqui as Nobel worthy? Sorry, but I find the claim (read accusation) ridiculous, ignorant and shameful. Am I as a Muslim, or anyone else, suppose to take YOU seriously then, when you can't tell the difference between Islam and criticism of religious extremism and hinge our religion with such notorious personalities or the state of Pak?
I apologize if I do come down harshly on Pak and other Pakistanis, but that is due to my own overseas Pakistani concern. I see others in denial and spouting nonsense or hate. You don't need to be Pakistani to comment here. Better hearing it from me. My purpose is to debunk the conspiratorial stupidity and lies, raise awareness to bitter truths like hyper and extremist religious nationalism and hypocrisy. Its frustrating seeing abuse and demonization of a 16 year old school girl activist who did right. Unfortunately you don't seem to realize how such treatment and attitudes is not only unethical but by extension ends up doing harm against Pakistan and Pakistanis itself, and perhaps Islam and Muslims, especially when we repeat the same TTP terrorist talking points. I expect you to understand such merits and arguments if you are the least bit honest or serious.
why don't u guys just let her be??????????????
@Dasmir: I graduated from pakistan long ago amd I am not from pakistan. My class fellows included girls in Pakistan.
She's just 16 let her live her life.... :/
By the time she will reach her age of becoming a politician...she will be far from the ground realities of Pakistan and Pakistanis .So stay there lady we already have a bunch of garbage here as politicians.
@broken chooza
indeed 'chooza' and that too: 'broken'!!
@Quaid-e-Saani I would love to know the outcome of your media-un-influenced research on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to gain any sense of why she should be given 'nobel peace prize'!
and yes, why so phobic of 'media' when you are yourself using media to spread what you believe in [no matter whether its right or wrong]?
Nation of Pakistan does not deserve to have Politician like Malala.. we are stupid people.. USA/UK please keep Malala with you.
I cant tell how stupid those people look who are calling each and everything a conspiracy against Muslims and they are saying it with such confidence and they feel as such intellectuals saying this. I feel sorry for them
Malala we dont blame you honestly. we just want you to realise that the West is using you as a pawn. had they been really concerned about spreading education, they wouldnt have bombed the entire of Iraq and Afghanistan or even pakistan. If you think rationally you will realise that there are other girls like you wanting to do this noble job of spreading education who never got a chance like the one you got. and now you probably must be thinking that but they never got shot by Taliban like i did right? well actually they went through such persecution too. so about time you put your foot down and come back. because you can do your noble job by being here as well. and dont tell the West add another feather to their hats.so dont take this personally.because we are equally concerned about education as well.
Malala is a pride for the nation - a beacon of light especially for the daughters, sisters and mothers of Pakistan. Hats off to the great daughter of the soil.
Malala can be compared to Sachin Tendulkar as both started their respective careers at the young age of sixteen in Pakistan and faced barrage of bouncers in the beginning. As Sachin came out unscratched from the onslaught made on him and became the world's best batsman, so will Malala who would also become the top political leader in Pakistan in the times to come.
Do not believe anything until it is officially denied.
Did pakistan government make any effort to bring her back to its own country ? They themselves have left her in hand of foreigners. How dare pakistanis speak against malala ?? You never had courage to protect her against taliban neither before she was shot nor after. With what right you say that others are using her ? Did you yourself make any effort to keep her with your self ?
@bigsaf: What is your purpose commenting on this website, abusing Islam and Pakistan in every post? You really expect us to take you seriously when you demonize our country and religion?
Every puppet says that. I have traveled in all provinces, smaller towns from Gilgit to Peshawar to Karachi. Education is definitely a grave issue but not the way you portrayed it to the world. My sister and her friends study in school in outskirts of Peshawar (semi-tribal area). Women are kept out of schools not by TTP alone but by Parents in large due to poverty and ignorance. Majority stands by your side not those pathetic Taliban loosers when they shoot you but at the same time, You as well need to stand by the truth, not being an opportunist, if you want.
@A.Khan: Had they developed deterrent for Pakistan India would have waged war on Pakistan as they threatened after conducting their tests in 1998
@broken chooza: im with ya my brother.....all the way..!
@Kazim Muneer:
This hyper nationalist sensitivity is what is making Pakistan a backward laughing stock. Being emotionally defensive to negative news, rather than accepting and rational in working towards a solution (which is never done) always makes it worse.
Please note your rape victim, who is villified by your public, was being barred by your authorities to leave the country to speak out about her situation because they were too 'embarrassed'. How ridiculous and low is your self-esteem to attach your national pride or honour to a rape victim going overseas about the poor situation in Pak for women, including her own, which was and is true. And not surprisingly she eventually DID NOT get justice from your courts as expected. Whose fault is this really and makes the negativity worse?
The way you or nationalist type folks irrationally look at your self-worth and the nation really is ridiculous. You rather be dishonest or take some knee-jerked reaction or twisted act in covering up a problem, rather than be humble and show humility in confronting it. Such Musharraf style pride, denial and lack of transparency really has cost us (oh man, what stupidity on OBL). Its not the people who want reform that is bringing a bad image, its the ones who are in denial, want to cover up or choose the status quo that are.
@Quaid-e-Saani:
Tired of the silly and petty arguments. I suppose such poor thinking or lack of empathy shouldn't be surprising from someone who nominated Al Qaeda supporting Aafia Siddiqui for a peace prize. If there is to be any proven or disproven lie, its incumbent on you to do so since it is your accusation.
You are above media influence how? I suppose the good stuff the media says about Edhi is also a lie, right? What a sad paranoid mind that can't research or accept factual reports or even arrogantly realize that other people can filter news. But we can all pretty much guess you're more steeped in right-wing religious nationalist propaganda than actual journalism. I suppose you deny the extremist TTP exist or rather praise Hakimullah Mehsud instead?
I've known about this child since her Swat diary blog was up, on the Swat takeover (do you have amnesia about that?) and later her revelation on her true identity, including her interviews on local Pak television. My own elderly mother was inspired by the sweet child and took a new initiative to pay for poor little girls we knew in Karachi BEFORE she was dastardly targeted by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's Swat chapter which upset many members of my family and fans of her globally. If you're uninspired, or feel media has 'influenced' us about a known reported crime of a brave young school girl activist targeted by an extremist, that is your own stupidity and heartlessness.
It's sad to see such hate against a 16 year old girl by adults; maybe it's time for adults to learn from the kids since they are the future of the country. We seem to like blaming others for all of ills may be it's time for us to do some self reflection and stop looking outside for enemies.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/malalas--20546976&page=10
The cyber-Taliban are at it again!
She is being used against Pakistan & Islam. Her family enjoys western lifestyle while living in England since the Malala Bullet theory. The girl & her family are part of a conspiracy.
@Sohail: It is the criticism of Malala by other Pakistanis that is making Pakistan look terrible to the rest of the world, not Malala herself.
So If she is agent who is promoting education peace then we accept her with open arms.
No need to say anything little sister - you need not even speak against the dogs abusing you! You have done more than any of these puny imbeciles and their online sidekicks against extremists and terrorists
Lots of ghairatmand educated Pakistanis are jealous of a 16-year-old girl who got shot for going to school? Really, this speaks volumes for the downward freefall this country is in.
Personally, I think her father is cashing in on his daughter's situation for all that it's worth - but she is safer outside this hellhole of a country, and she's just a 16 year old girl who is much, much better off than she could ever imagine. Why not let her enjoy?
This 16 year old schoolgirl has more strength of character than all the stupid naysayers combined..........and that's a large number.
@broken chooza:
Look in the mirror. I don't subscribe to deluded, twisted and hateful brainwashed conspiracies. You hypocritically admit what she did was right but demonize a 16 year old Pakistani school girl (earlier famous by UK's BBC), because of petty resentment and hate for the West. It reflects horrible vindictive mindset and biased thinking. No surprise we ceded to religious extremists, who share similar unreasonable spite. She's appreciated cause she spoke for education and against extremism, which Pak did not tackle seriously. She suffered for it in a shocking depraved new low attack by the TTP. The world condemned and sympathized with her, but you and others like to attack your own as a villain and would rather sympathize with the TTP. Warped priorities.
The region suffers foreign and local Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militancy of Pak's own making for decades, rather than your US excuse (I blame the US for abandoning Afghanistan again. But the onus has been on Pak for the region). Pak's late reaction to SWAT was sad. Allowing a settled area be taken over (took a flogging video to move the state, which denialists still view as a hoax against poor innocent Taliban even after so many brutalities). What did you expect to get after fighting extremists in Swat? Flowers? Money? This fight should be for ourselves. Did you expect a pat on the back when OBL was found next to a military academy? Appreciation, really? What low self-esteem and self-sabotage.
Just because we continue to be sacrificial victims of a lot of terrorist cancer does NOT mean Pak is doing enough against it. Its evident by the betraying double games, the open DPC rallies, Afghan Haqqanis protected over our local Turi tribe, Quetta Shura under our nose,etc. Now capitulation to TTP as deranged rightwing religious nationalists still have the audacity to sell and misdirect us with dishonest foreign hands conspiracies and ridiculous prejudiced slogans. Enough mindlessness.
All those who're praising Malala: You're not inspired by Malala; you're influenced by Media and its lies. Prove me if Im wrong. You're saying what the whole media is saying. No solid ground. This is the determining factor. All the things all of you are saying are a result of news you heard on media.
Our comments are what we think.Only time will clear everything. And i hope by the time Malala can really makes different to our country,our country may have something to change.Time is running us in problems only.
@observer: I'm touched that you are so concerned about Pakistan. Since Pakistan occupies the imagination of you Indians please clarify if the following are also Pakistan, Islam or Jinnah's fault. 1) The rise of fascist leaders in India for example Modi. 2) Indians behaving like bullies in every online forum classic example raj, Lalakimaa etc. 3) Indians rejoicing over deaths of Pakistanis in suicide bombings even flood and Earthquakes. 4) The annual communal riots in India. 5) A corrupt Government even you Indians have claimed it so and provide this excuse to support a fascist communalist. 6) Morons like Kumar,Leela,Raj-USA,Darbullah sarcastically calling Pakistanis as Arabs. @csmann: Aren't you an Indian? Why pretend to be a Pakistani like PakiMujahid,McProudpaki etc. @ Modified: A man with the nick Modified is giving us lectures on tolerance. What's next KukluxKlan members coming to teach us racial tolerance! ET mods this is my first comment in days please allow.
In recent times, anything and everything that ridicules Pakistan will get unlimited attention and airtime in the west. A rape victim started it all. Which country in the world is devoid of rape? Then came a film producer who used to work for western media, and produced a film portraying a phenomenon in Pakistan as if it is a common practice! whereas it is a problem in certain parts of the country. Now innocent Malala is belittling hundreds and thousands of workers in education sector, especially in KPK, who have dedicated their lives to the cause of educating masses, partcularly the Girls; Malala is probably an outcome of those dedicated Pakistanis who nobody knows and appreciates. Malala may have good intentions and dreams, but she must not disrespect all those hardworking dedicated people who are indeed working for the same cause and dreaming of better Pakistan in future.
I am a nobody to be judgmental here and cast aspersion on anyone's character but the fact of the matter is that the Malala Saga is having a hard time getting consumed by a lot of people including myself. I am not going to pay heed on some stupid dissertation on a Swiss couple planting a Polish girl in 1997 in Swat nor do I find the story of earwax credible. What I do know is that Malala is being used by the Western media and establishment to portray Pakistan as some desolate place from 300 B.C. Zia-u-Din the father of Malala is a highly dubious gig himself who is selling his daughter for personal gains.
Whatever she suffered, attained and achieved, this girl deserves loads of praise. She has a missionary zeal to promote the cause of female education in Pakistan. Pakistani and world media have given her unprecedented coverage which, regrettably, she couldn't digest and now intends to enter politics in Pakistan. This is being very very immature for her to take such a decision. Politics in Pakistan is very dirty game, she better not lose her good name by indulging in Pakistani politics.
Again! Most of the things everybody is saying is based on what media told them. They didn't have time to research. Same is the case with Malala, thanks to media, who could know her if we delete media from the whole story? And if media tells you the right stories then media has always praised "Aman ki Aasha", Pakistan's relations with India and America etc. So based only on media you can't be so confident that Malala is honest with Pakistan.
@Sohail:
Its unfortunate that you advised Observer not to deviate or deflect from the topic in reply but moved the goal posts yourself. Now you want her to address blasphemy video too? You think she's a western toy and not a hero enough for you for simply asking for education, despite suffering an extremist attack.
I thought you were sincere. Clearly not with such false expectations of things from a 16 year old that are only concerned to religious nationalist topics you favour. Its the same rightwing ideological mindset where priorities are warped. You still view extremism as 'reactionary' to drones, even though Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militant terrorism has existed long before. Again...not serious and further biased...its difficult to win support from such narrow mindedness.
@Ahmad Khan.. buddy there is no Malala from Afghanistan.. the lady you are referring to is Malalai
@bigsaf: U narrow minded puppet, people like you just see what they want to see only. Don't you have a little common sense to think that why this girl is being appreciated everywhere in westeren world and USA, whatever she did was right but you know, the western and USA never appreciate Pakistanis, even when Pakistan lost hundreds of its soldiers against USA's proxy war, we got nothing (and they kept on saying Pakistan is not doing much angainst terrorism). Now an injured girl by taliban is being appreciated that much, WHY is it so??
Malala is Pakistani but now he is not.
@Nadir: why ur eyes closd ? why only 1 single girl from whole the world? why not any girl from afghanistan,iraq,bosnia,chechnia,jeresulem,syria,egypt, where all these girls are killed by AMERICA itself ? why they have came to find only 1 girl? why not others killed everyday and every night in other countries ???? first think then write !!!
@ Quaid-e-Saani
One can make case for Abdul Sattar Edhi but honestly what is the contribution of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr. Samar Mubarak, Dr. Atta ur Rahman and Dr. Aafia Siddiqui for world peace.
@Sohail: Exactly!!! Every girl in my family from my mothers side and dads side has been to school, my dads from KPK and that's the strictest in girls education! Majority and I mean everyone I know or in my family regardless of age goes to school! It's a shame Malala did not even mention girls are allowed to be educated in pak and have done so and it's the fault of Taliban who took over in 2009 but was cleared away after and girls schools reopened. She even mentioned girls don't leave the house in Pak, well in KPK this might be the case although I have left the house and so has my family but not in Punjab and Sindh. I have full sympathy and love for this girl but the messages she's giving across is only making Pakistan being called a barbaric, uncivilised and cruel society where women are locked inside! And I am not denying Pakistan has barbaric people and uncivilised and plus she was saying something about Sharia!!! Please no one has ever in pak been tried under sharia legally, maybe illegally they have been killed but Pakistan does not even follow it! She could raise a lot of money and donate it to build girls school, women empowerment.. I hope she would because as a pakistani female that's my dream to help the poor and unprivileged.
come on people open ur eyes p. A bullet had crossed from her brain but she is still alive,no conscious loss,no weakening, no memory loss,
Malala, you are not a puppet but your fate has landed you and of your free will from the paradise of Swat whose natives are Talibs( good as well as bad ones) in the land which is organised by the professionals lobbyists power hungary entities and goons,
Education is a process to gain knowlede of academic subjects and exerience, but as soon as you aim for power you will have many competitors. You are an intelligent individual and my guess is that with this accidednt of your head injury, you might be able to improve the potential use of your brain. Let us hope that you do. Take care.
Rex Minor
Today she seems consistent with words. She was born to be a "Leader" that leads by example. Will she remain on same or be influenced by special interest groups or lobbies? Only time will tell. Only Education for ALL can overcome poverty, hopelessness, corruption, injustice, bad governance, misery, disease and much more. Pakistan Education budget should be no less than 8% of GOD today. Education is more important than Energy.
she is being used for some anti islamic purposes. she talks as if there is ban on girls education in pakistan. all she talks is nonsense.
@observer The issue here is how she can come up to the expectations of the country, its what could be done by her to get the support of Pakistani masses... And no sir, ok, i agree there are some wrongs in Pakistan, (no country is perfect, not even your eye-candy India) but not everything comes from within. The drones, the reactionary fight, the foreign funded insurgency in Balochistan, the Kashmir issue. Many issues need attention.
How about she just talk to them to remove the blasphemous video from youtube? Cant she do such things. Yes she can, and she should. Win back Pakistan's support. Thats what matters, she needs to be a hero, not a western toy! Please dont deviate. Regards.
@Quaid-e-Saani:
Edhi I can understand and agree with.
But from him how did you end up with....Aafia Siddiqui?! A convicted educated fundamentalist who wanted to join the Taliban and Al Qaeda and commit acts of terrorism, who couldn't hold her tongue in trial by throwing anti-semitic attacks...who the terrorist Taliban always ask about in their kidnap ransoms and you expect her to receive the Nobel Peace prize?! HOW?! This is just twisted privileged right wing religious extremist delusion...
@jibran I would be please if you let us know, what Malala has really done for girls education in Swat. Women literacy rate was already high even before Malala. How many schools did she opened? how many girls lives she had changed?
If award should be given because she (or her father in her name) writes for BBC, then Nobel price should also be given to every article writer at BBC.
If award should be given because Taliban shot her, then award should be given to each and every girl shot by the Taliban. Malala only got magic bullet and magic surgery that didn't gave her even a small scar, there are girls how lost their lives and many others with their limbs. They deserve more.
Media only loves the daughters of Journalists (like Malala). For media, ordinary people daughters are not brave.
@Sohail: Give her a break, she is only 16 years old, think about when we were 16 and other teenagers, what were we thinking and doing. She has the courage at this tender age to face the world media and she is doing an exellent job in my opinion. You know and I know that the eduction in Pakistan specially in K-P is sub-standard, I am from Mardan and when I visited my old school few years ago, I was dumbfounded to see 10th class students sitting on mats with a dimly lit bulb, can you expect these students to compete with the world or even with the students from our neighbor to the East. What Malala is talking about is education in the true sense, look around you in the villages and far flung areas, and by the way how many ghost schools are in existence through out Pakistan. The tragedy in Pakistan is that we have 2 teir system of education, one for the rich class and the other for poor, the leadership in Pakistan has resigned themselves to perpeutate this system because it suits them perfectly, and who says person with a college degree is an educated person, I have met some of those pathetic educated people. Please get off your high horse and help Malala to spread education in the true sense, so we could compete with the rest of the world as there is no shortage of intelligent kids in Pakistan.
But unfortunately we have too many TTP-puppets
@Anon: Seriously are u expecting a 16 year old girl who has majority of her life lived in swat an impoverished area with little development to be a brilliant politician..........And her message of peace and education is only lost in Pakistan the whole world stands behind malala with strong fist. And don't be scared of her she is just 16 years old not like Maualana diesel or Munnawar Hassan....
@broken chooza:
The expected broken minded religious nationalist conspiratorial hate against a 16 year old.
@Sohail: "She needs to talk about how the things enforced by west have made Pakistan what it is today." Wrong. Pakistan is what it is today because of the rigid enforcement of one religion with no freedom of expression of other views. Unless this happens there is no hope.
@Sohail:
You're advice is sincere. However we cannot improve by denying the major wrongs and only projecting few positives for the sake of nationalist image. The Pak govt did not take the Taliban threat seriously. This is also reflected in your comment as you downplay the Taliban takeover as not a big traumatic event. It was, and unless we take this seriously the world will indeed consider us uncivilized. Things are enforced on us by the West, but most problems really are self-imposed. Pakistan allowed education to suffer. Its a simple as that, and everyday it seems like we are ceding to more and more demands by extremists. And on top of which Pak's investment in education is dismal. These are bitter honest truths Pakistanis need to hear. She has already made a point on drones in her last visit to Obama.
Neither Malala nor Afia represent me.
We do not need to find extremes. I would rather be associated with Arfa Karim than any of these two.
Malala is just a kid. Have you seen the grin on her Father's face btw ? :)
@Quaid-e-Saani: @Sherghazipk There are many strong voices, but media is blind.
Dear Malala, Pakistanis at large are born confused and remain so. I am very doubtful that you will be able to change them. Come and settle in USA. Rest assured you will become at east a governor of some state and may be Secretary of State some day. You can rule Pakistan much better from America than from Pakistan.
@Anon:
If a people can't rally around a brave youngster who stood up for noble principles and was attacked for it, simply because she receives praise from Western quarters, speaks more about the derangement amongst the Pakistani people, that barely would accept their own founder's message or background if alive today.
We are proud of you Malala. Education is our biggest necessity and you are right on target.
@Quaid-i-Sani, Dr.Aafia Siddiqui, AQ Khan?? Really? Noble for these 'donkeys on 2 legs'? What else? Zaid Hamid for World Bank Chairmanship? You've gotta be kidding me mard-e-mommin.
Pakistani govt would prefer Malala stay away from Pakistan - they can't protect her and her death would severely tarnish the image of Pakistan and it's govt. Of course the solution is to get rid of the bad guys - but that's one of those "elephants in the room" that Pakistani's are unable to see.
They are sick who think Malala is being used against any one. She herself against dark forces who are dragging nation toward stone age.
@Sohail:
She needs to talk about how the things enforced by west have made Pakistan what it is today.
Really? And which of the following has been 'Enforced' by the 'West'?
A. A Constitution that makes non-Muslims Second Class citizens?
B. The Second Amendment?
C. Blasphemy Laws?
D. SSP,ASWJ, DPC,LeT, LeJ?
E. Repeated Coup by the 'Saviours'?
F. Hate material in textbooks?
Go ahead. You talk about them, even if Malala does not.
For those who accuse Malala of a western puppet. Watch Malala's interview with the BBC, which was broadcast just a few days ago. Malala said very proudly, her parents named her after the legendary Pashtun-Afghan heroin Malala from Maiwand Afghanistan who fought along side the Afghan fighters against the British imperrielists. Malala in the same interview says, " the message of the Afghan Malala was, fight for the freedom otherwisw all Afghans/Pashtuns would become slaves". Our Malala lives in Britain's and she has the courage to say that. I am simply asking all those ignorant critics of Malala. Mention the name of any mainstream Pakistani leaders who had such the same courage?
Malala Madam! Our previous parliament kept saying the same thing during its whole 5 years tenure. I don't know who to believe.
Educated children are born out of educated parents in antiauthoritarian and nonviolent affectionate families. Malala is a paramount example.
All young parents should follow the example of Malala´s parents! They gave her the basic education, or to be precise, the consciousness, to evolve within her cultural values and not unnecessarily imitate foreign cultures.
@jibran: Only one thing. You got caught by the media deception.
@Sohail:
You know she's 16 right?
You are puppet.
@Anon:
The fact that you need to comment to this regard with no data to back up you're garbage, understanding nothing about how western media and b.s. propaganda, and again, garbage like yours works...and doesn't, only confirms...
You're an idiot.
Malala mania at it's peak.
She is being managed by the worlds largest PR company. Unfortunately she does not realise that she can never go back to Pakistan. She will be given a British passport in five years time and will become a naturalised westerner. Good luck to her.
@Peshawer101: "no need any clarification young lady, we know you a true Pakistani and we are proud of you" . In the TV interviews she talks of Afghani Pashtuns struggle. Like Bacha Khan and Imran Khan she is not particularly keen on Pakistan. All that money Zardari (government's) poured in on this adcampaign imagining IK would suffer a setback.
It doesn't matter if she denies. She is, what she is ; that is, Western Puppet.
@Peshawer101: Exactly, No need for clarification. Enemies won't believe it and Friends won't need it.
How unfortunate that a child needs to prove her intentions to an always sceptical public.
So the World thinks only girls right in Pakistan not given???? Nadra reported bogus voting in Pakistan which is a basic right for any Nation... and the same EU observers endorsed the 11th May Election... what a dual instance from the Western World ...
You do make our leaders look puny. But that is not your fault.
Though Malala is a daughter of Pakistan, no doubt about it. She was shot, no doubt about it either. But one thing she needs to come clear about it is her stance on the many other issues faced by Pakistan. She needs to speak what the Pakistanis want to hear. She needs to talk about how the things enforced by west have made Pakistan what it is today. She needs to portray a better image of Pakistan. Yes she was not allowed education but that did not happen before or after Taliban came in Swat. When Swat was cleared in 2009, after that no such problem? So why the whole focus on a non-existent issue of Pakistan??
Malala jee, dont make the whole Pakistan look like anti education, uncivilized people. Just make it look better. You can do it. You have the mic, the world is your audience. You have more power than any other Pakistani. You can fight Pakistan's case. None else.
You made me proud when you said on John Stewart interview about the valleys and crystal rivers of Swat, how its another paradise. Keep making us proud. You are an asset, we dont want to waste. We want you to become the queen we would put on our shoulders. Just become one. You can do it Malala. Yes! You can. :)
Hahahahahahaha......this is the power of social media which exposes every one including individuals from print and electronic media. Thanks to social media, that now no one is an opinion maker especially from electronic and print media. Malala statement also shows the heat of social media from Pakistan. I think, the deserve person for the 2013 Noble Peace prize is Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of social media.
She may not understand everything that is going on around her but unfortunately she is being used and given a great deal or air time only to push and justify this whole 'War against Terror' by the so called people of justice / democracy / freedom...
The fact you need to clarify this shows how your message is lost on your own people. Thats not a sign of an effective future leader.
no need any clarification young lady, we know you a true Pakistani and we are proud of you
At least she is not Ayub Khan Yahya Khan Zia ul Haq Musharraf Afghan Mujahideen Osama Bin Laden Saudi Ruling family
She is a sixteen years old teenager. Let her dream. Let we dream along with her. Leave her alone.