Shazia Ramzan — wounded but not defeated

Malala’s injured colleague holds no grudges against attackers.

SWAT:

Shazia Ramzan, one of the two other girls injured in the gruesome assault on peace icon Malala Yousafzai, holds no grudges against her attackers.

“They are of a different mindset,” she says, but makes one thing clear: they will not stop her from getting an education.

While Shazia made a complete and commendable recovery just a month after the attack, it is her undeterred courage that is, simply, astounding.

Shazia sustained injuries to her shoulder and hand when Taliban militants opened fire on her school van on October 9, and was rushed to the hospital along with Malala and another classmate, Kainat Riaz.

A month after the attack, which sparked a global outcry, young Shazia remains fearless and more surprisingly, optimistic.

“Islam gives equal opportunity to males and females to get an education, so we will continue our education. Education is indispensable for both men and women as it gives awareness to mankind. I will become a doctor and serve my nation,” she told The Express Tribune on Friday.

Shazia arrived home a day earlier after a complete recovery at the Combined Military Hospital in Peshawar, with perhaps even more determination than imaginable.

“I feel so happy to be back. I have completely recovered and am feeling well. I want to say thank you to the whole nation for standing by us and praying for our recovery day and night,” said Shazia.

“During my treatment, I did not have any issues. I was only gloomy during Eid because I wasn’t able to enjoy the holiday in the hospital,” she said. “But when I returned home it was like Eid for me, because I was welcomed warmly by my family and friends,” she added.

“I was in contact with Kainat and was kept informed about Malala’s health by my father during my treatment,” she said.

Shazia expressed her appreciation for Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and her teachers for helping her with her studies while also conveying her thanks to the national and international community. “First of all, I am thankful to God and then to the entire world for supporting us, giving us courage and praying for us,” said Shazia.

She went on to say that she is hopeful of Malala’s return to Swat. “I pray for Malala’s complete recovery and wait for her return to Swat.”

Shazia is eager to rejoin school as soon as possible, but is waiting for permission from local police.  “As soon as the police allow me to go to school, I will go, as I miss my school a lot. I want to meet my friends and start my studies,” she said.

“I ask all non school-going girls to get an education and be part of the movement initiated by Malala for girls’ rights,” she appealed.

A bright student, Shazia credits her elder brother for her success.  “My brother has done FSc and now wishes to take admission in a medical college but he has not been given admission anywhere. I request the federal and provincial governments to give my brother admission to a good college,” she added.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2012.