Medallist dedicates achievement to APS students

PESHAWAR: Eleven-year-old Nayab Bibi, who won a bronze medal at the Special Olympics, has dedicated her achievement to the victims of the Army Public School massacre and children with special needs in the country.

Nayab Bibi told a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday that her achievement was the result of struggle and dedication.

She told journalists that she wanted to dedicate her victory to the victims of the APS attack and children with special needs. Nayab Bibi also urged that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and the governor establish institutions for children with special needs.

Also present on the occasion, Nayab’s father Haji Samiul Haq said, “It is her wish to dedicate the medal to those who died in the school attack and children with special needs.” However, he said none of the elected members, even the senior minister from Swabi, Shahram Tarakai, encouraged his daughter.

He said although she has grown up in a village, she managed to win a bronze medal on the global stage. The provincial government did not even acknowledge the victory, he said.

Haq said the local administration and police officials visited her and gave presents.

He spoke about her education, saying she was enrolled in the Mashal school where she participated in extracurricular activities. She then went on to take part in competitions on a national level and was finally selected to compete on an international platform.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2015.