Nation’s prayers are with Malala: Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said that the entire nation’s prayers and wishes are with Malala Yousafzai and expressed hope that she will soon be back after recovering from her injuries, Geo News reported Saturday.
CM Shahbaz Sharif expressed his views in a message on ‘Malala Day’ being observed today. He said that Malala is the daughter and pride of the nation and that he was receiving positive reports about her health. He hoped that she will recover soon and return to her homeland to be with her supporters.
Shahbaz Sharif said that Malala’s sacrifice for promoting education will not be in vain and the entire country feels pride on her courage. He said that the nation is praying for her prompt recovery.
The United Nations has announced to observe ‘Malala Day’ today under its supervision across the world in the honour of child activist from Swat, Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has extended his support to the young girl and her fight for education, describing her as the “global symbol” of every girl’s right to an education.
Ban Ki-moon’s Special Envoy for Global Education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said November 10, a month after Malala was shot at by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education in Pakistan, has been declared Malala Day.
The day would be commemorated in support of the 15-year old and the 32 million girls like her around the globe who are denied their right to school, Brown said.
In his message of support for Yousafzai and girls’ education, Ban said, “Malala Yousafzai is a global symbol of every girl’s right to an education.”
The UN chief said citizens from across the globe are speaking out for Malala and on behalf of the 61 million children who do not go to school.
He called the international community to join the UN campaign to put education first “for Malala and girls and boys throughout the world”. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown presented a petition with more than a million signatures in support of Malala to the Pakistan government. Brown, during the launching ceremony of Waseela-e-Taleem initiative in Islamabad, presented to President Asif Ali Zardari the petition carrying more than one million signatures of the people across the world to show solidarity with Malala. The president also signed the petition during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Malala thanked people around the world for their support on Friday in a message from hospital passed on by her father.
Earlier, tens of thousands of Britons called on the government to nominate Malala for the Nobel Peace Prize.A campaign led by a Pakistani-British woman urged Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior government officials to nominate Malala for the Nobel Peace Prize.