Hundreds of people in Malala Yousafzai’s hometown of Swat hailed and cheered as they watched on a giant TV their heroine receive her Nobel Peace Prize, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised the activist’s dream for girls’ education would come true.
Students, activists, teachers, elders and journalists gathered at the auditorium of the Khpal Kor Foundation at Mingora to watch live the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. They gave her a standing ovation for several minutes when she was called to the podium to receive her award.
Security was tight around Mingora, as soldiers and police patrolled the streets and conducted searches on every vehicle entering and leaving.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated both Malala and Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi, who shares this year’s Peace Prize with the 17-year-old. “The dream of Malala regarding girls’ education shall be realised,” Pakistan Radio quoted Nawaz as saying.
President Mamnoon Hussain also felicitated the teenaged activist and said “the nation is proud of Malala Yousafzai and stands by the brave activist for risking her life to fight for children’s rights”.
At the ceremony, residents distributed sweets among themselves in front of giant banners reading ‘You are the pride of Pakistan’ and ‘Congratulations Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai’.
“We really wanted to share the joy of Malala, the daughter of the land, so we invited students, civil society members and local elders to the event,” organiser Ahmad Shah told The Express Tribune. However, he admitted that the turnout was relatively muted because some residents “have spread a negative image of Malala”.
Most government and private schools in Swat began the day with prayers and well wishes for Malala. Adina Ali, an 11-year-old student, told AFP that she was inspired by Malala’s struggle.
“Malala raised her voice for education at a time when girls’ education was banned,” Ali said. “It is because Malala received a Taliban bullet in her head that the girls of Swat are going to school.”
Local teachers said that Malala was truly an inspiration for all girls. “She is an inspiration for all Pakistanis and 70 million Pakhtuns around the world. I’ve brought my students to this event,” teacher Sanaul Haq told The Express Tribune as participants chanted ‘Long live Malala’.
Students at the ceremony said that they also wanted to follow in the footsteps of Malala.
“I cannot express my feelings. I’m overjoyed to see a Pakhtun teenaged girl from Swat making Pakistan proud,” university student Haider Ali told The Express Tribune. “Her matchless struggle is an inspiration for our young generation.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2014.
COMMENTS (9)
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@MUNIB: @Khattak: A shut up call for those who think Malala should get Nobel price coz she got a bullet. Then the Palestinian children should get it before her. What sick methodology is this. This is all drama by West and media. Most of Pakistanis would agree with me that the Peace prize should go to Sir Sattar Edhi Sahab who is much more deserving than Malala. Who has done much much much more for Pakistan. But you are blinded by media. Sad but true.
@Fareed, Malala peace prize is neither for muslim league nor PTI. It is an international recognition for a Pashtun girl right safely going to school without being blown by state or non state actors. The world does not revolves around Pakistan. People in the world do not think like Muslim League & PTI. The message is loud & clear either you become part of the global world or live in your small hole of fantasies singing national anthem.
@Fareed Malala is surely a setup. A setup to wake your sleeping minds. You PMLn and PTI make so much noise on petty issues but the way you two have shown your TTP friendly mindset and not celebrate MALALA award, it pretty much exposes your true mindset.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Below is message from IK. Congratulations to Malala on her Nobel Prize. Proud of her courage. She reflects aspirations of our youth, especially girls, for education as a right.
STOP SPREADING HATRED PMLN MEMBERS AND GET A LIFE.
@Ch. Allah Daad: I also think Malala is a setup like many others. And I am from PMLN. We also think the same. Most of the nation thinks the same.
But please think about it: Nation deprived her of education that she so much wanted.
Nation failed to provide her security, and she was shot.
What did the Nation contribute for this young lady getting Nobel Prize.?.
Most Pakistanis like most of the world like and support Malala - only a few especially online sexually frustrated trolls from the cities of Pakistan along with assorted attention seeking Maulvis don't like her - simply because Malala has shown up their pathetic lives for what they are.
Malala Yousafzai Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad!
She's indeed an honor and pride of Pakistan. Congratulations to entire Pakistani nation.
Majority of us are proud of Malala except Taliban Khan and his unruly supporters.