January 6, 2018, marks the 4-year anniversary of the martyrdom of Aitzaz Hasan Bangash, a 15-year-old who gave his life to in order to protect the lives of others around him and from the moment of his Shahadat has been a symbol of courage and bravery for the entire country.
Aitzaz Hasan was with friends outside school when they spotted a man wearing a suicide vest. Despite the pleas of his fellow students, Aitzaz decided to confront and capture the bomber who then detonated his vest, killing himself and immortalising the young boy for his act of supreme bravery.
The incident of Aitzaz’s martyrdom took place in Ibrahimzai region of Hangu. There were almost 2,000 students in attendance at the time of the attack.
Aitzaz’s action to save his classmates captured the hearts of his countrymen and people all over the world and he was hailed as a national hero. Aitzaz was awarded the civil award of Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery) by the government of Pakistan and was also named as the Herald’s Person of the Year for 2014.
“My cousin sacrificed his life to save his school and hundreds of students and school fellows,” Aitzaz’s cousin Mudassar Hassan Bangish stated after his martyrdom.
“The suicide bomber wanted to destroy the school and school students. It was my cousin who stopped him from this destruction,” his cousin continued.
His family insist that rather than focus on the sorrow brought about by his death, they want to focus on their pride in his actions.
“My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children,” Mujahid Ali, Aitzaz’s father is quoted as saying.