Malala Yousafzai has received several international awards for running a courageous campaign to promote education in Swat during the Taliban’s rule but there is no government-sponsored event to honour the young education campaigner even after she got the Nobel Peace Prize 2014, mainly for fear of militant attacks.
“Both the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments not only feared the Taliban’s reprisals by holding functions to appreciate the girl, who defied the militant campaign against education,” said Dr Khadim Hussain, head of the Bacha Khan Education Foundation.
Dr Khadim said the foundation had been able to organise few events in own capacity but there’s no government patronage to organise a full-scale event and own her publicly.
He said by not holding high-profile events at official level, the country was losing a big opportunity to integrate with the world.
The BKEF head said the militancy-hit Pakistan faced isolation in the world, so it could well take advantage of Malala’s international fame.
“We can build new schools and colleges and repair those damaged by militants in Swat and tribal areas but it is unfortunate that the government has yet to accord her the status she deserves,” he said.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government disallowed the launch Malala’s book, ‘I am Malala’ at the eleventh hour supposed to be held at the Area Study Centre of the University of Peshawar in January this year.
The university, where discussions, seminars and debate on political, cultural and other issues were frequently held, disappointed organisers.
The book, she co-authored, isn’t freely available throughout the country for fear of attacks by the Taliban.
Hussain said he was not surprised over the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to its ‘soft corner’ for the Taliban.
The federal government’s inability to acknowledge her as champion doesn’t bring any amazement either as the PML-N had never opposed militants and terrorism.
The professionals don’t hesitate to speak on any subject but don’t utter few words about Malala because of their jobs. Privately they recognise her achievement. Everyone acknowledge that she could be an inspirational force for the youths but stayed away from talking about Malala.
“We are unlucky as we are in a position to retrieve social, political and economic benefits Malala, who is international celebrity, but the government is complicit,” Hussain said.
