THE shooting in broad daylight of Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, on October 9 exemplifies the mindless violence that characterises daily life in many parts of Pakistan. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, was quick to take credit for the shooting, which took place in Mingora, a small town in the Swat valley. Malala came into the media spotlight in 2008 when she courageously rejected the Talibans demand that all girls should stop going to school. At that time Swat was under the control of the Taliban. In messages to the BBC and other media groups, Malala had defended the right of girls to get an education and criticised the Talibans attempts to close down schools teaching girls. She is the recipient of many international awards and a special gallantry award from the Pakistani government.
Masked gunmen shot her at point-blank range while she was in a bus carrying girls to school. She was rushed to a military hospital in Peshawar, where her condition has been described as critical. Two other girls were also injured. Personalities from across the Pakistani political spectrum condemned the incident. The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the attack. Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani issued a statement saying that the attack was a heinous act of terrorism perpetrated by cowards who would go to any lengths to impose their twisted ideology. He did not specifically name the TTP.
The government has made arrangements to send Malala abroad for treatment if necessary. Her doctors said that part of her brain was damaged by a bullet which passed through her skull and that she had a 50/50 chance of survival. The TTP remains unapologetic. Its spokesman said that if she survived, they would try to kill her again. She is a Western-minded girl. She always speaks against us. We will target anyone who speaks against the Taliban, he was quoted as saying.
John CherianCOMMents
COMMents
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