Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to visit Malala Yousafzai in the United Kingdom

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari will visit the United Kingdom (UK) to meet Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old peace activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban. The young peace activist is being treated at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Officials of the Foreign Office declared the visit as an extraordinary move by President Zardari, because the president did not have any official engagements in the UK other than inquiring health of the young peace activist, The Express Tribune reports quoting its sources.

President Zardari along with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will meet the bravo girl following a visit to Iran, reports quoting sources from the Foreign Office said.

The teenage girl, who was shot while riding a school bus on October 9 in the Swat Valley, became the symbol of resistance against the Taliban, advocating access to education for girls in an area that has been one of the Taliban’s main strongholds in the country.

Malala has received messages of support from across the globe with some suggesting a Nobel Peace Prize for her. However, back at home certain right-wing elements accused her of being part of the US conspiracy to push Pakistan for a fresh military offensive in the tribal areas.

In a special message, President Zardari said Malala stands tall as a symbol of girls’ education and of defiance against those who wish to impose their obscurantist agenda behind the facade of religion.

To reinforce the idea that Malala represents the government of Pakistan, a special initiative has been launched to give free education to the children.

The government is planning to introduce an education fund in the name of Malala Yousafzai during World Human Rights Day on December 10. The creation of the $10 million fund will be announced by President Asif Ali Zardari during the World Human Rights Day event in Paris.

The event will also be attended by former British Prime Minister and UNESCO representative Gordon Brown.

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Posted by Web Desk on Dec 7 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.