President Asif Ali Zardari has said Malala Yousufzai stands tall today as symbol of girl education and a symbol of defiance against those who wish to their obscurantist agenda in the name of religion.
In his message on the occasion of "Malala Day" that is being observed worldwide on Saturday, (November 10), the President said "Malala Day" is being observed today all over the world to show solidarity with the brave daughter of Pakistan Malala Yousufzai, who stood defiantly to the militants to pursue her education and refused to bow to their threats and faced the bullets instead of giving up.
He said on this occasion it is worth repeating what I said at an international conference recently about our daughter Malala, "Malala Yousufzai is 15 years old. Since she was eleven, she has been an advocate of education for girls. Malala is a symbol of all that is good about us."
He said Malala represents the resilience of our girls and women. The terrorists shot Malala in the head and neck, he said and added that "her attackers are not just trying to kill the Daughter of Pakistan, but they are trying to kill Pakistan. They didn't stop at Afghanistan. They won't stop at Pakistan. Attack on her is an attack on every child in our region. It is an attack on the future of our region. We cannot sit idly as our children are attacked. We must act. Urgently."
The President said observance of the Malala Day today by the international community is a demonstration of the realisation that the attackers of Malala would not stop at Pakistan and threaten the whole world. He said it demonstrates the commitment by the world community that no matter what the odds, together we will fight the militants and not let them succeed in their agenda. Malala has transcended from an individual to an idea and the observance today shows that the idea lives on, the President added.
He said that to drive home the message and to reinforce the idea that Malala represents the Government of Pakistan on the eve of Malala day today launched special "Waseela-e-Taleem" initiative to give free education to the children particularly female children of the poorest of the poor families in the country.
"The more the militants strike the more we will rebound with determination, defiance and courage. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it," the President said. On this occasion, the President wished to compliment the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for urging the international community to observe Malala Day today.
The President congratulated Malala Yousafzai, her parents, and all those who fight for the cause for which Malala stood. The President wished Malala early and complete recovery and thanked the doctors in Pakistan and at the Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital who took care of her. He said the Mission of Malala is fated to succeed.