JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: Malala Yousufzai’s father is correct to say that despite her assailants’ efforts, she fell only temporarily and will rise again. She will stand again because the Pakistani nation is standing alongside her. When Malala met her father on October 26, two weeks after the shooting incident, she asked for her ninth grade books to prepare for her exams, while lying in bed. This is a story of a brave girl who stood against forces of darkness for her right to education.
Then there is the heartwarming story of Namira Salim, who will soon become the first Pakistani to go to space. Her flight with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Space Tourism Project is planned for next year. Namira, who has been to both poles and has also skydived over Mount Everest, is now looking forward to travelling to space. Though it would be a paid visit carried out by a commercial project, Namira believes that one day space will open up for non-governmental space researchers and common tourists. She also hopes that eventually, politicians can also be taken into space, a perfect place for conflict resolution.
One would wish that not only politicians but Malala’s attackers could also be taken into space and be left there for some rethinking. Anyway, congratulations to both of the proud Pakistani ladies.
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.
