Malala & Peshawar

“Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all.” A masked gunman shouted at school girls when they were getting back home from school.

Upon being identified, Yousafzai was shot with bullets, and this was 9th October, 2012.

Today l am taking the opportunity to share some of her memories in Peshawar and how Peshawar remembers her till date.

Malala’s Speech at Peshawar Press Club

This was 3rd, Feb 2009 when Malala came to Peshawar and spoke at a Peace Conference. The event was led by Late Idress Kamal.

Ziauddin Yousafzai Speech at Quami Amn Jirga, Peshawar

Ziauddin spoke to the Qaumi Amn Jirga, which was held at Nishtar Hall Peshawar. This was the event where the famous “Peshawar Declaration” was drafted by the attendees.

Treatment at CMH Peshawar

After getting shot, Malala was airlifted to CMH Peshawar, where doctors successfully operated on Malala and removed the bullet lodged in her neck.

Protests against Attack on Malala

A huge protest was held in front of Peshawar Press Club on the day Malala got shot, Social Activists, School children, politicians and people from other walks of life participated in the protest.

Protest Camp for Malala

Two protest camps were held in Peshawar, One of which was in front of Peshawar Press Club which was organized by social activists of KP while the other was organized on University Road by PTI Pakhtunkhwa. The current Minister, Kamran Bangash, can be seen in the picture on the camp..

International day of action to support malala yousafzai & Girls’ Education:

10th November 2012 was coined as International Day of Action to support Malala Yousafzai and Girls’ Education and was commemorated in Peshawar with true spirit. First we had a talk inside Press Club Hall and then we did a vigil in the Press Club lawn. Minister of Information of that time, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, also attended the event and can be seen in the photographs.

Malala Yousafzai book launch censored in Peshawar

On 30th January 2014, a book launch ceremony was planned at the Area Study Center, University of Peshawar, But unfortunately the event was called off and censored by University administration. In reaction, Azad Pakhtun Students Federation, led by Tariq Afghan, protested in front of the admin block

Malala Day 2014

In 2014, there was enough negative propaganda against Malala, civil society members celebrated Malala Day on 15th July, which gathered good representation of civil society.

Walk in celebration of Nobel

When Peshawaries got the news that Malala had been nominated for the Nobel Prize, They came out on roads to celebrate it. A peaceful walk was organized from Peshawar Press Club to Deans. People were chanting slogans of “ Malala Zindabad” (Long Live Malala)

Jishn-e-Malala

18th November, the eve of nomination of Malala for Nobel Prize, was celebrated as Jashn-e-Malala at Nishtar Hall Peshawar.

School children participated and performed skits, poems and speeches on the occasion. Malala’s video message was also played at the event.

Live Streaming of Malala’s Nobel Prize Ceremony

Malala’s Nobel Prize reception ceremony was live streamed at Peshawar Press Club and cake was cut on the occasion.

The hall echoed with Sardar Ali Takkar singing the song “Ta Bibi Shirana ye” as a tribute to Malala’s achievements. I witnessed tears of joy & pride in the eyes of all the participants while Malala was receiving the award.

Malala Condemns APS Massacre

16 December 2014, when APS massacre happened she shared her message as:

“I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us. Innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this. I condemn these atrocious and cowardly acts and stand united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan whose efforts so far to address this horrific event are commendable. I, along with millions of others around the world, mourn these children, my brothers and sisters — but we will never be defeated.”

Malala Day 2015

On her birthday,12th July, Peshawaries celebrated the day in Peshawar Press Club.

I would like to sum up my blog as I do not remember the day because she was shot in the face, but because she rose to become a symbol of resistance and persistence in the face of terror.