Malala Yousafzai — future prime minister of Pakistan? - Pakistan

E-Paper | May 24, 2026

OSLO: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said Wednesday that she hopes to become the prime minister of Pakistan one day.

Speaking on the BBC programme Hardtalk, Malala said that she would move back to Pakistan once her education is complete in Britain.

“I want to serve my country. It is my dream to see my country develop into a successful nation, where every child is able to receive education.”

She further said that she was inspired by assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto.

“If I can help my country by joining the government or becoming the prime minister, I would definitely be up for this task.”

Malala was 15 when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head as she travelled on a school bus in response to her campaign for girls' education.

Although her injuries almost killed her, she recovered after being flown for extensive surgery in Birmingham, central England.

She has been based in England with her family ever since, continuing both her education and activism.

The 17-year-old will receive the peace prize in Oslo with Indian campaigner Kailash Satyarthi, 60, who has fought for 35 years to free thousands of children from virtual slave labour.

Take a look: Malala Yousafzai to receive Nobel Peace Prize today

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Malala

Pakistan

PM Shehbaz hails Trump's 'extraordinary efforts to pursue peace' after phone call with CDF, leaders of other countries

25 terrorists killed in clash in KP's Bannu, 2 civilians and 2 policemen martyred

PTI denounces crackdown on ‘nationwide protest’

Riazullah Khan

Dec 10, 2014 01:02pm

ALLAH Almighty save Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Mohammad Ali

Dec 10, 2014 01:08pm

No way!!

Recommend 0

rahul1

Dec 10, 2014 01:08pm

Her aims are high - is visible from her looks

Recommend 0

Naeem Syed

Dec 10, 2014 01:14pm

Looks like the West is training her for that very job.

Recommend 0

M.Malik

Dec 10, 2014 01:14pm

Why not? Look at career politicians have done for or to Pakistan, and any ordinary person could do no worse. Besides, how many Pakistanis have been awarded Noble Prize for anything worthwhile?

Recommend 0

Adeel J

Dec 10, 2014 01:16pm

Good Luck and Godspeed

Recommend 0

Dec 10, 2014 01:21pm

I dont think so.. although shenisnfollowing her heart but she is being used as a conspiracy and can never bee pm of pakiatan..

Recommend 0

Hammad Hasan

Dec 10, 2014 01:31pm

Yes, obviously your founders are profoundly investing on you for this purpose and they will get their return by making you PM. Everyone knows. May ALLAH ALMIGHTY save my country!

Recommend 0

saeed

Dec 10, 2014 01:33pm

no thanks

Recommend 0

Muhammad Iqbal

Dec 10, 2014 01:38pm

If she is corrupt like our leaders, there is possibility of her becoming a prime minister like the dreams of Zardari to make Bilawal future prime minister. There is no ban or embargo on dreams

Recommend 0

Ample reverence for Saudis

Dec 10, 2014 01:44pm

So my prediction was right..a horrible conspiracy!

Recommend 0

Amir

Dec 10, 2014 01:49pm

There is no room for you in Pakistan. . First let the Khan and Nawaz decide for PM seat

Recommend 0

Mrs. Khan

Dec 10, 2014 01:50pm

oh please.... !

Recommend 0

Realist

Dec 10, 2014 01:51pm

Why not ? I would definitely choose Malala over Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Hamza Shahbaz, Maryam Shahbaz or a Mulla who is a supporter of Taliban.

Recommend 0

rehan

Dec 10, 2014 01:52pm

Oh HORROR !!! No way .... I am sure we have real deserving women that can become Prime Ministers.

Recommend 0

Vikki

Dec 10, 2014 01:54pm

Oh God save Malala from Pakistan dont let her fate be like benazir.

Recommend 0

sheraz

Dec 10, 2014 02:01pm

Prove first for what you have been awarded around the globe countless times and then the people of Pakistan will decide whether to elect you as their PM or not...

Recommend 0

Jatin

Dec 10, 2014 02:03pm

She is cordially invited to India and work towards betterment of our Indian children and women...

Recommend 0

Zahid Khan

Dec 10, 2014 02:06pm

Clearly the West had planned all this 5 years ago. They really do think we are sheep! Pakistanis have changed, Imran Khan has woken us up from a deep slumber. Malala please stay in UK, we don't want you, even if they give 10 Nobel Prizes!

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 10, 2014 02:07pm

At what cost? how come she is going to be prime minister? its just that all the fueled, tycoons and world power supported her for noble price? The prime minister should be and will be from the masses, with clean and spotless character, who worked for the betterment of this nation. We don't mind if this time any Pakistani non-Muslim become prime minister of this country, because they also have the right to lead this nation.

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 10, 2014 02:09pm

@Realist for god-sake Bilawal and Malala have to get experience and first they have to work and exert for this nation. Once they get experiences then they should think about leading this nation.

Recommend 0

Farooq Ali

Dec 10, 2014 02:09pm

The speed with which she is moving she may become President of United States, Pakistan is too little a State for her to rule,

Recommend 0

bilqis NEW YORK

Dec 10, 2014 02:11pm

She is already my role model. And definitely pm of our beloved Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Robert

Dec 10, 2014 02:13pm

She would need more than the pedestal the West has put her on to govern Pakistan .. many hundreds of thousands of young brave Pakistani girls went to school before her - she was fortunate from a material point of view the West decided to use her as a propaganda tool against terrorists.....this fairy tale was created in the west and will endure until another piece of propaganda is required

Recommend 0

Wachucha

Dec 10, 2014 02:15pm

Malala has made the nation proud. Her determination and efforts are highly praiseworthy. She is a true representative of the Pakistan youth that is in heavy majority in the country and wants to change the corrupt and inept leadership to more inspiring and representative one. Good luck Malala!

Recommend 0

Aleem

Dec 10, 2014 02:30pm

Best of Luck Malala ! You have my vote ! To all the ooh Malala is a western conspiracy.... and their younger sibling 'she is being used'... What about the clowns in our oooh soo conspiracy free parliament... ? If there is any conspiracy,,,if there is anyone being used....its the whole self serving ruling elite of this country since the last sorry sixty years... Perhaps you ought to start your conspiracy theories with them...instead of focusing on a 15 year old brave girl who was shot in the head by a lunatic following a lunatic ideology..for the singular crime of talking about education for young girls her age...

Recommend 0

tani

Dec 10, 2014 02:31pm

Mullahs will come after her as soon as she lands in Pakistan.The govt. will never be able to provide her the security and like Benazir she will be embracing grave dangers once she decides to come back. She is young and full of enthusiasm.Only time will tell if she delivers on her speeches.

Recommend 0

Sam

Dec 10, 2014 02:31pm

She will make a fine prime minister. World needs good people like her.

Recommend 0

Sharjeel Abid

Dec 10, 2014 02:37pm

How can a person know about a country from such a distance; all she is being fed is what media and SOME COUNTRIES want her to think about it. I am not discouraging her, it is a bold step to think about entering politics at such a tender age, but she needs to take a closer look into the REAL PAKISTAN.

Recommend 0

khanman

Dec 10, 2014 02:42pm

does that mean. we are finished with capable people. Mr Anderson or is it the beginning of an end.

Recommend 0

Jor El

Dec 10, 2014 02:45pm

@Farooq Ali I am sure ur comments were sarcastic but: 1) U need to be born in the US or to US parents if outside US ... 2) U don't rule a country/state, u serve it when in power ...

Recommend 0

Mariam

Dec 10, 2014 02:52pm

How about helping your country first by collecting funds and opening more schools? You have the power to do that. So please show me.

Recommend 0

Afsar

Dec 10, 2014 02:57pm

Much better than Zardari and Nawaz Sharrif...and rest they tried to be......i support Malala... ♥

Recommend 0

Rizwan

Dec 10, 2014 03:10pm

@Zahid Khan agreed

Recommend 0

Supriya

Dec 10, 2014 03:14pm

not that i am against her.. but i dont see an activist in her .. i see highly ambitious teenager.. all this hype she is getting is not what she deserves and she stands nowhere near kailash satyarthi, the man who gave up a promising career as an electrical engineer and since thn has dedicated his life for the upliftment of kids forced into slavery... you dont get nobel prize just because who suffered a talibani attack.. many people go through same problems and are fighting against taliban.. bt they are not getting nobel prize.

Recommend 0

Einstein Babar

Dec 10, 2014 03:28pm

For all those wWe are actually hypocrites, if Pakistan is a Islamic state, a lady can adopt all legal professions but cannot be a PM, otherwise declare it just republic of Pakistan if you want Malala as PM. Be good or bad but don't be a hypocrite

Recommend 0

usman

Dec 10, 2014 03:36pm

Oh no Malala please you remain in Britain please. You are in UK with your family that is what you already acheived. Next PM is one and only Imran Khan the Tiger Khan

Recommend 0

usman

Dec 10, 2014 03:38pm

Recommend 0

Muddassir Nazar

Dec 10, 2014 03:59pm

For God sake,...Miss malala don't come to Pakistan.....we don't want you here...just be happy there and enjoy the western life.......we don't want more puppets.....

Recommend 0

Usman

Dec 10, 2014 04:02pm

A puppet in making..........

Recommend 0

h h

Dec 10, 2014 04:05pm

what qualifications does this 17 year old have? she has not even managed a mithai dukaan let alone a corporation. let her prove her abilities and then she may be considered for a position in the govt.

Recommend 0

riz

Dec 10, 2014 04:06pm

Why do we even ask such questions. Just because someone has achieved well deserved respect in the international community does not make them fit for a political role. Seriously Dawn. Why? Wittgenstien and Bertrand Russell were the most celebrated and accomplished academics in UK. Nobody suggested that they should be Prime Minister of UK. Besides, Joseph Stiglitz is a very well respected economist and nobel laureate. Nobody suggested that he should be President of USA. All Malallah can be good for are perhaps advisor on Education or Women's Affairs. As Pakistan goes towards mature democracy we have to realise that to be a people's representative you need to have the right quailifications and understand government and governing. Despite all her achievements, she is not celebrated for these qualities. So Dawn ought to show maturity and not ask such questions to begin with.

Recommend 0

FadyBoy

Dec 10, 2014 04:11pm

common Guys she does qualify because she got all the required qualifications 1- Incompetent 2- Dual National(british and pak) 3- Live outside Pakistan and wants a Govt post

Recommend 0

Abid

Dec 10, 2014 04:11pm

It is tragic to see so many Pakistanis believe in conspiracy theories hatched by mullahs and corrupt politicians. I am proud of our brave daughter achieving the recognition for her extraordinary strength and caurage. For me she has all the qualities to become a great leader. She is aspiring to greater ideals and it is a shame that the long suffering people of our country are choosing the filth that the Sharif and Zardari family are producing over this precious young lady. All the best to you Malala and I am so sorry for the comments of some of your compatriots here. So wish our people were not so backward.

Recommend 0

Taimoor Khan

Dec 10, 2014 04:21pm

I want to be Prime Minister of Pakistan as well. Pretty please!!

Recommend 0

Umer

Dec 10, 2014 04:25pm

We don't want a selected ones we are hoping for an elected ones.

Recommend 0

citizen

Dec 10, 2014 04:27pm

The way things are shaping, it seems she will become Prime minister of England, not Pakisthan..Dont think she will come back to home country..

Recommend 0

Reader

Dec 10, 2014 04:45pm

No need for imported Royals in Pakistan...we already have enough

Recommend 0

milind

Dec 10, 2014 04:46pm

Hats off to her bravery and simplicity.May God Bless her.

Recommend 0

Rahber Rind

Dec 10, 2014 04:49pm

Her dreams are high but her role model BB is wrong -- ask Fatima Bhutto what she has to say about BB. and Hope some day Malala can read "investigation done by The New York Times on corruption by BB. It was to the tune of 1.5 Billion dollars .. ITs a long road and uphill battle -- but all I had to say is the following: Hope is a waking Dream Hold fast to your dreams because if your dreams die Life is like a broken wing bird That can not fly . With Best wishes ..

Recommend 0

Babay

Dec 10, 2014 05:00pm

She is meant to do the assignment at appropriate timings. May Pakistan lives a longer life.

Recommend 0

M.M.Sherazi

Dec 10, 2014 05:00pm

This has been the tragedy with Pakistan that almost all of the prime ministers of Pakistan have been either trained, brain-washed or brought-up by the western countries to come and rule Pakistan and its unfortunate people.

Recommend 0

Mira

Dec 10, 2014 05:02pm

NOT in a million years. Pakistan has had enough Western stooges since its birth.

Recommend 0

Ganga Din

Dec 10, 2014 05:12pm

Future Prime Minister of Britain not Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Rehman

Dec 10, 2014 05:17pm

When does Taliban uses a handgun to kill their targets, it's always been a suicide blast. Furthermore they stopped a Suzuki van filled with girls going to school and they only fired shots at Malala and they weren't fatal. Future Planted PM of Pakistan and Aarfa Siddiqui as well, both will one day return as the innocent daughters of the country, groomed well enough to do as the Western Agencies would please and us stupid fools will be head over heels!!!

Recommend 0

naveed

Dec 10, 2014 05:39pm

A western agent in making

Recommend 0

fahad

Dec 10, 2014 05:40pm

@Aleem Shortly after her incident, a young female teacher in Sialkot gave her life to save pupils from school van which caught fire due to CNG. Ooh... Do you even know that? It was a news for few seconds and then no one cared. Why would anyone or WEST care about her because she wasn't supporting their agenda? Now that was an act of bravery... Knowing that she would have no chances of survival if she plunged into fire... Yet she didn't care about herself and saved children. That was a sacrifice.

Recommend 0

fahad

Dec 10, 2014 05:41pm

@FadyBoy Lol

Recommend 0

Anwar

Dec 10, 2014 06:28pm

welcome to politics

Recommend 0

Ghani K

Dec 10, 2014 06:32pm

Yes, come back, go through the baptism of Pakistani politics and then seek premiership. In the meantime focus on your studies and try to stay away from the lime lights. Enough is enough.

Recommend 0

Babay

Dec 10, 2014 06:33pm

Live happily with your family there we have enough of such personalities here to lead Pakistan.

Recommend 0

DOC

Dec 10, 2014 06:36pm

she can wish for whatever she likes and express it ... her basic human right of "free speak" :)

Recommend 0

Tanveer Sheikh

Dec 10, 2014 06:40pm

She can be non-resident primeminister and can project her holograph for her subjects to follow so she can be safe anything is possible with technology and the internet

Recommend 0

dawn

Dec 10, 2014 06:41pm

Just waiting for when her drama will be exposed?

Recommend 0

Rammohanrao sumbaraju hyderabad,India

Dec 10, 2014 06:49pm

Hearty congrats to Malala your speech on girls education will become an eye opener to the so called psuedo religious fanatics. Education is birth right of every child whether male or female. Especially our heartfelt thanks to u and ur parents particularly to ur for encouraging u from the most difficult part of ur life. Good luck, keep going-god bless u and ur endeavor

Recommend 0

UFO

Dec 10, 2014 06:51pm

If we believe in democracy, she has no chance.

Recommend 0

Sam Javed

Dec 10, 2014 06:54pm

I hope she continue and work hard for dream unfortunately we Pakistanis always into conspiracy believer I am not surprised to see as soon as someone from outside elite class achieve something and trying to do good its always somekind of conspiracy of wes. Malala keep on working and stay focus & dont pay attention to these guys they are so naive and so sure like they were personally told by cia or kgb or mi16 LOL. They have nothing better to do but blame of their failure to west and outsiders and I hope you return and become part of political system we need people like you.

Recommend 0

bilal_VA

Dec 10, 2014 07:10pm

She will be my first choice and not Mulla Fazlullah or Munawar Hasan.

Recommend 0

Anil

Dec 10, 2014 07:10pm

Congratulations

Recommend 0

Keti Zilgish

Dec 10, 2014 07:12pm

If the world can have absentee landlords, tycoons, property owners, why can't we all get down to earth and see some advantages in really absentee politicians, pms, presidents etc, who, it seems, are as it is rather absent-minded anyway. How many members attend national and provincial assemblies? If we can have matter going across borders why cant people be crossing borders or is the entire human species doomed to be prisoners and slaves of their various governments and those they normally get sold to?

Recommend 0

Ansar Mujtaba

Dec 10, 2014 07:35pm

The conspiracy theory was true...... Ya Allah Help Pakistan

Recommend 0

ziavrep labqi

Dec 10, 2014 07:46pm

She is destined to realize her dream for a progressive Pakistan. The world believes her. Can we say the same for the sorry lot that has ruled us for most of the period since independence?

Recommend 0

Ahmad Ali Rafi Ahmad

Dec 10, 2014 07:59pm

Looks like West is training her for the job!

Recommend 0

ziavrep labqi

Dec 10, 2014 08:04pm

@oz When will we stop seeing a conspiracy in every good thing to happen to us?

Recommend 0

Pakistan Ki Shaan

Dec 10, 2014 09:44pm

Every Pakistani citizen has a right to be a PM of Pakistan. Every child of Pakistan should dream of becoming one. Most people hate Malala because she is a woman leader

Recommend 0

Pakistan Ki Shaan

Dec 10, 2014 09:49pm

In between, Pakistan army looked after her when she was injured by gun bullet. Now Pakistan Gov is paying for her expenses. So no country is paying for her apart from Pakistan. It is great to see how much she loves Pakistan. She calls her hometown of Swaat a 'paradise' and pakistan her beloved country. Giver her a break! Every child in Pakistan should dream of becoming PM of their beloved country. I hope, she will join PTI Some hateful messages here reflect our mentality. Some of the people hate her because she is a strong woman. They can't accept that she has a strong will and bravery. I am proud of her!!

Recommend 0

Parvez

Dec 10, 2014 09:58pm

She has my vote.

Recommend 0

Reader

Dec 10, 2014 10:10pm

Could be a possibility only if she goes back and live in Pakistan once she has finished her education rather than dictate whilst living in UK.

Recommend 0

okhan

Dec 10, 2014 10:14pm

YES !!!

Recommend 0

Sajjad Khan

Dec 11, 2014 02:36am

Atleast she would not be corrupt like the rulers of this country, past and present.

Recommend 0

JUSTICE

Dec 11, 2014 04:56am

If Benazir can become PM, why not Malala , only difference between them, Benazir was part Butto dynasty, Malala don't have any dynasty politics background, if one day in future she run for PM, she will first ordinary woman in history of Pakistan. I wish, her good luck.

Recommend 0

Amir Indian

Dec 11, 2014 05:42am

@M.Malik What about Bilawal Bhutto's career then?????????????????????? and she's now UK national.

Recommend 0

Amir Indian

Dec 11, 2014 05:42am

@Hammad Hasan What about Bilawal Bhutto's career then?????????????????????? and she's now UK citizen.

Recommend 0

Amir Indian

Dec 11, 2014 05:44am

@Ahmad Ali Rafi Ahmad What about Bilawal Bhutto's career then?????????????????????? and she's now UK citizen.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Why investors who know Lahore are looking closely at Alif Holdings’ 20 Canal Residence

20 Canal Residence: Where prestige meets income.

Mirchawala’s launches exclusive ACCA degree pathway with University of Greenwich, London

Mirchawala’s ACCA students can now earn a globally recognised online Bachelor’s degree from the University of Greenwich after completing 9 ACCA papers.