Rewarding bravery: Aitizaz’s family receives Rs5m

HANGU: The family of Aitizaz Hassan, the teenage hero who was killed while stopping a suicide bomber on January 6 in Ibrahimzai, was given a Rs5 million cheque by the Hangu Deputy Commissioner on Thursday.

Syed Ahmad Jan gave the cheque to Mujahid Ali, the deceased’s father, at his office on behalf of the provincial government.

Meanwhile, the former federal minister for human rights, Ansar Burney, Awami National Party’s senator Abdul Nabi Bangash and provincial president of Pakistan Muslim League-Q Intikhab Alam visited Hassan’s grave to lay a floral wreath and offer condolences.

Burney said Hassan was a brave boy who sacrificed his life to protect his classmates and teachers. He said both Malala and Aitizaz were Pukhtuns who displayed tremendous bravery against terrorism.

Bangash and Alam also paid a tribute to Hassan and criticised the government’s response after the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2014.