Friday October 12, 2012

Brutal attack on Pakistani girl an affront to human rights everywhere

THE attack, last Tuesday, on Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year old Pakistani girl, who is in intensive care after she was shot in the head, in an assassination attempt by Taliban militants in broad daylight on a schoolbus, has appalled not only Pakistan but caused international outrage across the world.

The shooting of this young girl who stood up for the rights of girls to receive an education has been widely condemned, among others, by leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, United States, and the European Union.

There has been shock and revulsion in Pakistan, as people in large numbers took to the streets to protest against this heinous act. It places even greater pressure on the Pakistani government, which has been fighting against local Taliban militants across

the country’s northwestern province since 2007.

The terrible incident took place in Mingora, the main town of the Swat Valley in Pakistan’s northwest, quite ironically one of the most picturesque and pleasant regions of Pakistan, with its statuesquely beautiful people combining occidental and oriental features.

Taliban bombers have killed thousands of Pakistani soldiers and civilians over the last five years and have destroyed hundreds of girls’ schools across the region.

What’s even more reprehensible is that the Pakistani Taliban have issued a statement justifying its cold-blooded murder attempt on this child, saying any female who opposed them should be killed.

As thousands of children across Pakistan are holding a vigil and pray for Malala’s recovery, let’s hope that all democracy-loving people will heed Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani’s call to “further unite and stand up to fight the propagators of such barbaric mindset and their sympathisers”, wherever they might be.

RUEBEN DUDLEY

Petaling Jaya

News

Friday October 12, 2012

Brutal attack on Pakistani girl an affront to human rights everywhere