Pakistan

If you can’t support her, leave her alone

Her responsibility or role is not to critique the policies of the UN and the states that make it up.

Letter July 28, 2013

LAHORE: This is with reference to Syed Mohammed Ali’s article of July 26 titled, “Rethinking Malala’s UN visit”. The article seems more of the same, and is placing the heavy burden of delivering a perfect speech at the United Nations on the shoulders of a 16-year-old girl. The writer first praises Malala a little in his opening sentences and then goes on to criticise her, much like many others have. The fact of the matter is that Malala was there only to talk about education and to say that her speech “wasn’t broad enough” or was in too much praise for the UN is to miss the point.

She was speaking at the platform of the UN and this is meant to represent all nations (however flawed their policies or however ineffective they may be as an institution). Her responsibility or role is not to critique the policies of the UN and the states that make it up. Even our leaders don’t touch the ‘broader’ issues, yet, for some reason, everyone expects it of Malala.

Please stop focusing on the child; if you can’t be supportive of her cause, then leave her alone. She’s just a child trying to do whatever she can for a cause she believes in. If others are trying to use her for their own agendas, that’s not her fault.

Meera Ghani

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2013.

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COMMENTS (2)

shamsulmulk.mandokhail | 11 years ago | Reply

i think malala is brave daughter of khber pukhtoon khwa,she fought a war against terrorist,we hope she will bring change in third world societies,she is role model for up coming generations.it is time for Pakistani to support malala war against terrorist.

Malik | 11 years ago | Reply

Malala was like a breath of fresh air, for this country. I feel proud of the way she stood up and delivered her message at the UN, she was better than most of our civil, khaki and political elite that has addressed the UN. She projected an image of Pakistan, which evoked more sympathy and support than most of those who have ruled this country either by default or by chance, for example military dictators of the recent past like Zia or Mush and politicians like AZ.

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