Child peace activist Malala Yousufzai, who is currently recovering in the United Kingdom after a deadly attack allegedly ordered by Maulana Fazlullah, will return to Pakistan her father said on Thursday.
According to a report by the Huffington Post, Ziauddin Yousufzai in his first talk with the media since the shooting said that Malala would return to Pakistan after medical treatment abroad. He dispelled the notion that the family would seek asylum abroad.
"I first laughed at it because all of our sacrifices, my personal (sacrifices), or this attack on my daughter, cannot have such a cheap purpose that we would go to some other country and live the rest of our life there," he said.
Malala’s father spoke alongside Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the minister’s Islamabad office. Malik promised that the government would protect Malala and her family when they returned, AP reported.
Malik said Malala had asked her father to bring some of her school books with him when he goes to Britain.
‘‘Even while sitting there she is taking care of her schooling,’’ said Malik.
Latest reports on Malala's condition suggest the teen icon is stable and on the path to recovery.
Information Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar said it will take Malala around two months to recover fully. He said she can return to Pakistan only after her complete recovery.
The information minister further added that Malala’s health was improving day by day and that the doctors said her condition was out of danger.
He had earlier met medics treating Malala at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He said the hospital has the most appropriate expertise and experience to treat the injured teenager.
COMMENTS (34)
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Malalai and her family have done their bit. Its up to everyone to do it as well.
Today's news: The whole family is considering seeking asylum in UK. Rehman Malik and Zardari are trying to persuade them otherwise and have offered Malalai's father a position in the Pakistani chancellery in UK.
It would help Malala and her cause if she had a 'spokesperson' to interact with the media and not her father.
we pray malala for u nd ur famiy. carry on ur mission insha allah u wl b succeeded.
I love Malala just like my own daughter & would recommend that she can do so much living abroad by building schools & colleges in Pakistan instead of returning now. Malala should return but at appropriate time not now since monsters are out there after her life. We love you Malala Beti & pray for your quick & full recovery & long life.
@Enlightened: Shame on you. Have you any idea how many Pak soldiers laid down their lives in this fight so far and counting. Have you forgotten when people like you were all over the worlds media when the Swat Valley was infiltrated by the same barbarians. Had it not been to the accomplishments of the Pak military, not only Swat may have still been under those barbarians control but many other areas would have been lost. It is a shameful act on your part to attempt creating hate among Public for the army, else you are an Indian using such cheap tactics. By now people like you should learn that role of the army for any action is under the directives of the civil government. Would you not agree ?
@gp65:
If Malala is attacked next, it won't be by Taliban - It'll be a Qadri amidst the local populace, seeking rose petal showers. That's the tragedy of religious fervor. They won't even know why they are doing what they are doing! :(
Livelong Malala...We are proud of you..You are Daughter of Pakistan...Allah will Safe you....Insha Allah
Malala, Pakistan needs you, come back and continue your great work. You are brave and courageous. Dont listen to the Taliban supporters who say that what happened was all a conspiracy.
@Bold: "@gp65: Do you think international coverage of the shooting will scare the taliban? are you that naive."
I had referred to domestic and international coverage. Domestic coverage will significantly dry up local support and international coverage will make it difficult for Taliban apologists to repeat what they did this time and provide a strong state response. That is my assessment. OFcourse I could be wrong.
Trust me - Malala is IA going to become something major in the politburo of Pakistan one day - a national hero has been born. This child has shown the world the meaning of bravery and courage. Taliban - read and weep. If our 15 yr old girls can kick your behinds with a pen, wait till we all wake up. Your days are numbered you faithless beasts.
What ever family decide, we should welcome and respect their decision... The family has already given too much to this country. it's our job to ensure that her cause is live, and women are empowered in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan...
@mrs .sofia rehman.: So that's how a conspiracy theorist acts when they're forced to shift perspective a little. That was not pretty.
i Corly solute Malala n her family that still after becoming victim of such a stingy attack yet they have not even moved a single step from their stance.it shows that that there r still leaving such a people who don't have any kind of hesitation from death or any other kind of drama.they really deserve one of the bravest family not only of Pakistan,Asia,Muslim world but the whole world.they r the real n true role model for the world n specially to the Muslim world n r a great thread to those extremist n fundamentalist who don't know exactly about Islam n its true teachings.God bless them .
@gp65: Do you think international coverage of the shooting will scare the taliban? are you that naive.
Im almost 30 and I can honestly say I am not as brave as this young girl. Any one of us would have rather worried about ourself after such a horrific event but she seems to be more worried about Pakistan and its people than herself. Nothing can be said that puts her courage into words. Thank you for bringing tears to my eyes after more than a decade!
Malala no doubt you make us proud,you are a star keep shining,and your great father who is giving you so much confidence its amazing !!!Carry on with your mission and everybody is with you never mind those "JAHIL LOG" who call themselves TTP or the people who are running this shameful campaign against you by calling you american agent well i wont be falling for this american agent propaganda anymore it is them who are the agents of SATAN.
She should not come to Pakistan till Molvies and talibans become human.
What Habib Jalib said for Benazir also applies to Malala : Darte hain bandooqon wale, ek nihatthi ladki se.
I also greatly admire the father's courage and patriotism. No doubt that is where Malala also got her genes and values.
@Introspection: I think most sane people with any humanity in them would share your concern for her life and safety. I do think though that she will be safe when she returns now despite bluster by TTP that they will attack her again. The reason is that they were completely shocked by the magnitude of national and international response to the shooting and will not risk a recurrence.
@Sultan Ahmed: jkrthuihn
A message for all you 'self-interest-promoting-heartless-merciless-oportunist-scavengers': Let Malala be a child...please don't turn her into a 'Modern Joan of Arc'....!!!
Let her lead her life peacefully in EU or US. She is not a sacrificial lamb. If Pakistan wants to fight, let adults do it.
Wish her and her family all the best, but for her own safety I think it would be best that her family move to a relatively safer urban area like Islamabad / Lahore / Karachi. Going back to Swat just to stick it to the jahils would be a bit foolish and an unnecessary risk - Malala and her family have done more than enough for this noble cause already, now it's time for the rest of the public to do their part.
Welcome,we r with u.
Whereas brave daughter of Pakistan taken the bull by its horns but the Pak military is cooling its heels in their barracks rather than fighting the barbarians who have killed thousands of Pakistanis and still counting. What a shame ?
Her return would be nightmare for ignorant Mullahs.they are only scared of educated woman who knows about her rights.Get well soon and we are pround of you Malala.
That will be like nightmare for ignorant Mullahs.Nothing can be more fatal to Mullahs than educated women.They are scared of young Malala.Get well soon Malala.We are proud of you.