MINGORA/MANSEHRA, Oct 12: Students of private and government educational institutions on Friday prayed for the early recovery of child activist Malala Yousufzai and her colleagues Shazia and Kainat, who were shot by the Taliban militants in Swat of late, in Mingora.

They also observed a one-minute silence.

Schoolfellows of Malala, Kainat and Shazia held special prayers in the morning assembly after their school reopened after a closure of two days.

Prayers were also held for Malala and her injured colleagues in all government and private educational institutions across Swat valley.

The students expressed solidarity with Malala and her fellow students and agreed to carry forward their message for the enlightenment of the people.

A one-minute silence was also observed in all educational institutions to condemn the attack on girl students.

Quran Khwani was held in mosques and educational institutions in all parts of Swat for Malala, Kainat and Shazia.

A prayer session was also held in Swat University, where teachers and other staff and students participated.

In Mansehra, a rally was taken out to condemn the attack on Malala.

Holding banners and placards, participants shouted slogans against the US and Israel.

“We condemn the attack on Malala and pray for her life, but the US and Israeli agents are behind the attack as they wanted to divert the national and international attention from anti-Islam film. The government should expose the conspiracy and take attackers to task,” ex-Senator Haydaitullah Shah said on the occasion.

Besides Mr Shah, Maulana Waqarul Haq Usman, Abdul Rauf Rufi and representatives of political parties and the traders’ body also spoke on the occasion.

In Khar town of Bajaur Agency, too, the people condemned the Malala Yousufzai attack, prayed for her and other injured students, and urged the government to take action against attackers.

In a meeting, Bajaur Siasi Ittehad condemned the attempt on the life of Malala.

Also in Buner, special prayers were held in all schools for the early recovery of Malala and her fellow students.