Pakistan Fisherfolk forum (PFF) on Saturday organised a gathering to express solidarity on Malala Day being observed by various human rights and civil society organisations around the world. Saeed Baloch, General Secretary PFF briefed the audience about the situation of girls' education in Swat and the struggle of Malala Yousufzai for the great cause.
He said more than 450 girls' schools have been burnt by certain elements in order to stop the education in the region. The law-and-order situation was at its worst when Malala started writing her diary by the name of Gul Makai. However, he said extremists attacked on her life cowardly but she survived. PFF Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah, showing the solidarity with Malala Yousufzai, said Malala has become a symbol for the rights to education for the girls.
"We salute her bravery and courage and count our solidarity with her. Education is a fundamental right and a key to development," Shah said while expressing his feelings. Shah demanded the government to increase education budget by reducing defence budget so that every child like Malala can get his/her fundamental right without putting his/her life at stake.
Quratul Ain Mirza, a human rights campaigner also appreciated the work that Malala has done for promoting girls' education in restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The simple gathering attracted community elders, activists and staff to sit together and discuss how the daring girl contributed towards the great cause. They also portrayed the status of girls' schools in coastal and inland waters, where minor girls of fishermen are being deprived of their basic right to education.