PESHAWAR/MINGORA: Political parties and civil society organisations have paid rich tribute to girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai on being honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Civil society activists distributed sweets and youth danced to drumbeats at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday to celebrate the achievement of Malala.

A ceremony in this connection was also held at the press club and addressed among others by ANP general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Strengthening Participatory Organisation’s regional chief Arshad Haroon, Tribal NGOs consortium chairman Zar Ali Khan, Khwendo Kor chairperson Maryam Bibi, minority community representative Asif Bhatti, Lasoona chairperson Rakhshinda Naaz and journalist Shamim Shahid.

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Mian Iftikhar said that Pakhtuns were dubbed as terrorists in the past but now it was proved that they were peace loving and against terrorism. He said that Malala was a reflection of the mindset of Pakhtuns who loved education, development and believed in the policy of live and let live.

He said that Punjab government had announced to establish a university after Malala, and asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to follow suit.

On the occasion, Arshad Haroon said the award was in fact a win for Pakhtuns and a defeat for terrorists and extremists. He said that Malala proved that Pakhtuns believed in peace, dialogue, tolerance and development.

Youth dance to drumbeat to celebrate Nobel Peace Prize for education activist

Maryam Bibi said Malala was daughter of the nation and a pride for all the peace loving people, adding that all the girls across the world should get education and play role in spreading the light of knowledge.

Rakhshinda Naaz said that Malala was now a symbol of peace and education and the award deserved to be celebrated as it was a big success of the nation.

Zar Ali Khan and Shamim Shahid said that the award proved Pakhtuns’ love for knowledge and peace, adding that all those opposing her had faced defeat.

Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Saleem Saifullah Khan also congratulated Malala Yousafzai on being honoured with the Noble Peace Prize.

In his message of felicitation, the governor said that the award was not only a recognition of her exemplary contribution to education but also the acknowledgement of the nation’s great sacrifices against terrorism.  

Aftab Sherpao said that the prize would encourage all those working for promotion of education in the country. He said Pakhtuns were proud of Malala who stood against all odds to raise voice for education.  

Asfandyar Wali said that the award was a good omen for Pakhtuns and proved that Pakistanis were against terrorists and extremists.

Meanwhile, the people of Swat, the native district of Malala, termed the achievement of the education activist a great success for the entire country.

They said that after the award, the world would know Swat, once affected by militancy, as a place of peace and prosperity.

Ahmad Shah, president of Global Peace Council, told Dawn that soon after the announcement he contacted Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Malala, who said that he and his family were very happy over the achievement their daughter.

He quoted Mr Yousafzai as saying that the award meant that the world recognised that the people of Swat were peace loving. Mr Yousafzai said that two days ago he talked to Malala over phone and found that she was not very hopeful about winning the peace prize this year compared to the last year when she had a lot of expectations about winning it.

Malala’s father said that she had a plan to construct an elementary college in Shangla and five middle schools in Swat.

Fazal Maula Zahid, president of Rotary Club Swat, said that Malala had participated in many meetings of the club as her father was its active member. He said that responsibilities of Malala had increased after winning the prize as she would now have to be more focused on female education.

He said that Malala should declare Swat as valley of education so people from across the globe could come here for getting education and convey a message of peace to the people of their respective countries.

Mr Zahid also urged Malala to work for establishing an international women university in Swat to promote girls’ education in the valley.

Fakhrul Hassan, cousin of Malala Yousafazi, said that he and his family were too happy over the peace prize win, adding that it was recognition of the struggle of people of Swat for peace. “I was taking lunch with my family when my brother came and told us about Malala’s achievement,” he added.

Farooq, in-charge of Khushal Public School Mingora, said that students of Swat were mostly trying to copy Malala, adding that after the achievement girls students were now more inclined to get higher education and contribute to country’s development.

Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2014