Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Friday visited Malala Yousafzai at the hospital, saying the attack on her life was not a crime against an individual but against humanity and “our core moral and social values”.
The prime minister enquired after the health of the girl and met her family as well.
He was told by the doctors that the next 36 hours were critical for Malala.
PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar, ANP’s Haji Adeel and other ministers also enquired after Malala’s health along with the PM.
Ashraf said they had come to the hospital to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of Malala, who along with her friends was subjected to a cowardly attack by senseless people.
He said the nation stood united in condemning the brutality and degradation of those who perpetrated this crime and the poisoned mindset that sought to destroy the soul of the nation.
“The extremists attacked Malala for what she stands for, because they were scared of the power of her vision,” the PM said.
He said Malala had a simple message, “The right for girls to be educated”.
Ashraf described Malala as a true Pakistani and the real face of Pakistan, vowing that they would not allow anyone to destroy the face of Pakistan.
“She has created a movement across Pakistan. Our girls want to follow her footprints,” he remarked.
The prime minister said he had often stated that we faced a threat from a bigoted and radicalised mindset that wanted to rob us of our cherished values of peace, pluralism, moderation, tolerance and passion for knowledge. The PM pledged to fight this mindset.
He said it was this mindset that was behind the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto.
“I will not allow the future of our children to be endangered by the militant mindset; the enemies of Pakistan will never be allowed to succeed. We will uproot this menace of extremism and militancy and will not surrender the soul of the nation,” Ashraf said.
The prime minister said every Pakistani was praying for a complete recovery of Malala.
He said she was receiving the best-possible care and being treated by best professionals in the country.
Won’t allow terrorists to enforce their agenda: PM: Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf said on Friday that a handful of terrorists would not be allowed to enforce their agenda on the country. Addressing a national conference on children’s rights, he condemned the attack on teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai in which she and her two fellow students were injured.
He said the attack on Malala was not against an individual, but an attempt to stifle our way of life.
He said such incidents would not deter the government’s resolve to protect common values and the future of country’s children. “It gives me strength to note that the people from all walks of life and political spectrum have been unanimous in condemning this brutal act. This shows that the nation is united to preserve its values. Let us all pray for the speedy recovery of the young girls,” the PM said. He said the evil act exposes the hollowness of the extremists and the level they had sunk to.
He said the nation was under threat from an extremist mindset which wanted to rob it of its peace‚ moderation‚ tolerance and patience. “We are fully aware of our international obligations in realizing the ideal of ensuring a world worthy for our children.
We are determined to continue our endeavours at national, regional and global levels in line with our international obligations,” he said, adding that the government was taking measures to combat violence against children. He said October 11 had also been declared as the day of children’s rights
‘Attack on Malala a crime against humanity’
