SHERGARH - Hundreds of children belonging to various private schools took out a rally to condemn the barbaric attack on girls' education champion in militancy -hit Swat region Malala Yousafzai here the other day.
Led by All private schools Management Association (Markaz Hujra) Chairman Dr Ziaul Hassan Tahir, the rally started from the largest private school of the town Tahir Academy and culminated at Karnal Chowk.
The children were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of Malala and against the Taliban. .They said it was unfortunate that an innocent girl was attacked only because she advocated the cause of girls' education that is quite in line with the teachings of Islam.
They said that the cowardly attack would further embolden the children of the volatile region to acquire education and shun this anti- islam mindset that works against the education of the fair sex.
Addressing the rally, Dr Tahir said that Malala was a brave daughter of Pakistan who stood against the might of the Taliban and dared to criticize their attacks on schools and school going girls. He said Malala had become a symbol of bravery and the life-attempt on this 14-years - old girl exactly indicated the extent of fear that the terrorists have against the spread of education and removal of backwardness in this country. Terming Malala pride of Pakistan, he said Malala's struggle for thousands of girls who had been deprived of their right to education in Swat by terrorists would bear fruit and defeat the extremist mindset.
At the end of the rally, the children prayed for early recovery and long life of Malala.
Malala won international recognition for highlighting Taliban atrocities, especially against girls' education in Swat. She received national peace award from Pakistan's government and was nominated for the international children's peace prize by kids Rights Foundation in 2011.