Malala’s mission destined to succeed: President Asif Ali Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that the mission of Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old rights activist from Swat who was shot in the head by the Taliban, is fated to succeed.
In his message on the eve of “Malala Day” being observed worldwide today (Saturday), the president said the day is being observed all over the world to show solidarity with the brave daughter of Pakistan who stood defiantly to the militants to pursue her education and refused to bow to their threats and faced the bullets instead of giving up.
“Malala stands tall today as symbol of girl education and a symbol of defiance against those who wish to impose their obscurantist agenda behind the facade of religion,” he said, according to a press release.
“Malala Yousafzai is 15 years old. Since she was 11, she has been an advocate of education for girls. Malala is a symbol of all that is good about us.” President Zardari said Malala represents the resilience of Pakistani girls and women. “Her attackers aren’t just trying to kill the daughter of Pakistan; they are trying to kill Pakistan. They didn’t stop at Afghanistan. They won’t stop at Pakistan. Attack on her is an attack on every child in our region. It is an attack on the future of our region. We cannot sit idly as our children are attacked. We must act urgently.”
The president said the observance of Malala Day by the international community is a demonstration of the realisation that the attackers of Malala would not stop at Pakistan and threaten the whole world. “It demonstrates commitment by the world community that no matter what the odds, together we will fight the militants and not let them succeed in their agenda,” said the president, adding: “Malala has transcended from an individual to an idea and the observance today shows that the idea lives on.”
He said to drive home the message and to reinforce the idea that Malala represents, the Government of Pakistan on the eve of Malala Day launched special “Waseela-e-Taleem” initiative to give free education to the children particularly female children of the poorest of the poor families in the country. “The more the militants strike the more we will rebound with determination, defiance and courage. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it.”
The president appreciated the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for urging the international community to observe Malala Day. “I wish to congratulate Malala Yousafzai, her parents and all those who fight for the cause for which Malala stood. I wish Malala early and complete recovery and thank the doctors in Pakistan and at the Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital who took care of her.”