PESHAWAR, Oct 12: Government officials, students and civil society activists on Friday offered collective prayers in their respective places for the early recovery of child activist Malala Yousufzai and her class fellows, who were shot by the Taliban in Swat a few days ago.
They also observed one-minute silence as a sign of honour and respect towards the injured on the call on the provincial government. In some government schools, colleges and universities, Quran Khwani was held for the speedy recovery of the injured students.
Political parties and civil society also staged demonstrations and set up camps to condemn the attack and sympathise with the affected families. The civil society continued with its protest against the attack for the second consecutive day at a camp outside the press club, where representatives of non-governmental organisations and political parties showed up in large numbers.
Provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz women’s wing provincial general secretary Shazia Aurangzeb and ANP MPA Shagufta Malik were noted among the visitors to the camp.
Participants adopted resolutions urging the government to take effective action against the Taliban for attacking innocent students and provide Malakand division with sufficient funds for education development, In the resolutions, they pushed all political parties to condemn the Taliban over the attack.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hussain said terrorists deserved no concession and should be dealt with strictly.
He urged political parties, civil society, media, religious scholars and other segments of the society to join hands to eliminate terrorism of all kinds and manifestations.
Ms Aurangzeb said the government had imposed the ‘others’ war’ on Pakistan adversely affecting local residents.
She blamed the US drone attacks for growing terrorism in the region and said the US-led Nato forces had failed to defeat the Taliban and were forcing Pakistan to launch new military operations on its soil.
Also in the day, special prayers and Quran Khwani were arranged at the University of Peshawar’s constituent institutes, including University Model School, University Public School, Jinnah College for Women, College of Home Economics and University College for Boys, for the early recovery of Malala Yusufzai and her class fellows injured in the Taliban attack.
Special prayers were also held for the health of Malala at male and female hostels of University of Peshawar and mosques on campus after Friday prayers, according to a news release issued by the university. Students said Ms Malala was an ideology, which promoted girls education in the troubled Swat.
According to them, she is an icon and her voice will be raised by millions of ‘Malalas’ in the country.
They condemned the attack, saying education was the right of every Muslim man and woman and anyone denying them it would be resisted.
The ceremonies were addressed by University Model School Principal Javeda Khalid, JCW Principal Dr Neelofar Zeb Arbab, College of Home Economics Principal Dr Ghazala Nizam,University College for Boys Principal Dr Mohammad Ishaq and UPS Principal Gul Hameed. Students and teachers showed up in large numbers.