Father of girl shot by Taliban says she'll return to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) - The father of a 15-year-old Pakistani activist girl who was shot and wounded by a Taliban gunman vowed Thursday that she would return home after finishing medical treatment abroad despite new insurgent threats against her.
Since she was shot on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan, Malala has become a hero both at home and internationally, although her work in speaking out against Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls' education has long been respected and known beyond her native Swat Valley.
The comments by the father, Ziauddin Yousufzai, were recorded by Pakistani state television. He's expected to fly soon to Britain to see his daughter and it was the first time he has spoken publicly since the shooting.
At the age of 11, Malala began writing a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC about life under the Taliban in Swat. After the military ousted the militants in 2009, she began publicly speaking out about the need for girls' education. She appeared frequently in the media and was given one of the country's highest civilian honors for her bravery.
A Taliban gunman shot her in the neck and head as she was in a school bus on her way home from school in the Swat Valley city of Mingora. Two other girls were injured in the attack.
She was airlifted to a hospital in Britain on Oct. 15. The Taliban have vowed to kill her, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return but her father dispelled reports the family might seek asylum abroad.
"I first laughed at it because all of our sacrifices, my personal (sacrifices), or this attack on my daughter, cannot have such a cheap purpose that we would go to some other country and live the rest of our life there," he said, speaking in Urdu.
The Taliban said they targeted Malala because she promotes "Western thinking," and have vowed to finish the job in the future.
Malala's father spoke alongside Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the minister's Islamabad office. Malik promised that the government would protect Malala and her family when they returned.
Malik said Malala had asked her father to bring some of her school books with him when he goes to Britain.
"Even while sitting there she is taking care of her schooling," said Malik.
Malala has started talking and has spoken to both of her parents by phone, the interior minister said.
The 15-year-old is being treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in central England, which has a major trauma center specializing in treating severe gunshot wounds, major head injuries and road accident victims. It is also home to the Royal Center for Defense Medicine, the primary receiving unit for military casualties returning from overseas.
The medical team caring for Malala at Birmingham hospital said in a statement Thursday that she was comfortable and continued to respond well to treatment.
Last Friday, the hospital released the first photographs of Malala since the shooting showing her lying in her hospital bed and said she was able to stand with help and write.
Since she was shot on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan, Malala has become a hero both at home and internationally, although her work in speaking out against Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls' education has long been respected and known beyond her native Swat Valley.
The comments by the father, Ziauddin Yousufzai, were recorded by Pakistani state television. He's expected to fly soon to Britain to see his daughter and it was the first time he has spoken publicly since the shooting.
At the age of 11, Malala began writing a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC about life under the Taliban in Swat. After the military ousted the militants in 2009, she began publicly speaking out about the need for girls' education. She appeared frequently in the media and was given one of the country's highest civilian honors for her bravery.
A Taliban gunman shot her in the neck and head as she was in a school bus on her way home from school in the Swat Valley city of Mingora. Two other girls were injured in the attack.
She was airlifted to a hospital in Britain on Oct. 15. The Taliban have vowed to kill her, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return but her father dispelled reports the family might seek asylum abroad.
"I first laughed at it because all of our sacrifices, my personal (sacrifices), or this attack on my daughter, cannot have such a cheap purpose that we would go to some other country and live the rest of our life there," he said, speaking in Urdu.
The Taliban said they targeted Malala because she promotes "Western thinking," and have vowed to finish the job in the future.
Malala's father spoke alongside Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the minister's Islamabad office. Malik promised that the government would protect Malala and her family when they returned.
Malik said Malala had asked her father to bring some of her school books with him when he goes to Britain.
"Even while sitting there she is taking care of her schooling," said Malik.
Malala has started talking and has spoken to both of her parents by phone, the interior minister said.
The 15-year-old is being treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in central England, which has a major trauma center specializing in treating severe gunshot wounds, major head injuries and road accident victims. It is also home to the Royal Center for Defense Medicine, the primary receiving unit for military casualties returning from overseas.
The medical team caring for Malala at Birmingham hospital said in a statement Thursday that she was comfortable and continued to respond well to treatment.
Last Friday, the hospital released the first photographs of Malala since the shooting showing her lying in her hospital bed and said she was able to stand with help and write.
Her father is crazy. She should get asylum elsewhere - in a place where she can go to school and become a great person. Unfortunately Pakistan is a failed state, a slave to terrorism...
Bitter sweet as it may be, her father has a good point. If they kill her she will go down fighting for what she believes in. Running away does not send the same message. She has spent almost 20% of her whole life fighting for her cause, the cause of all girls in Pakistan. I suspect that in the end they will kill her. She will have a huge impact on others and, sad as it may be, she needs to return and face them to continue her battle. May God protect you Malala.
A fine example of how completely spineless the Pakistani government is these days. It should be hunting down every Taliban supporter, from one end of the country, to the other. The government should be ashamed and embarrassed that a teenage girl has more guts.
 @BobDobbs They have always been spineless
This is one brave and determined little girl. She is truly an inspiration and role model for all young women.
She is giving her life for the cause, what can you say. Selfless indeed.
So the Pakistani government is going to protect her from the Taliban. Who is going to protect her from the Pakistani government?
I hope the UK lets her stay there and tells the dominating father to sod off.Â
@Citizen#3457899654Â Â Â Â That he allowed his daughter to pursue her passion for these last 4 years, tells me he is most likely supporting her in her decision to return and take up the cause again.Â
What a brave little girl in a sea of crazy b@#%$#@'s
Wonder how Malala feels about returning to Pakistan... did dad consult her? It would appear that Malik isn't able to protect much of anything. If the government / military in Pakistan doesn't start going a better job - come together in their determination to eliminate the Taliban - Malala will end up dead like so many others.
Great decision there, dad. Â Poor kid.
To each to their own Pakistan is and always will be a breeding ground for terrorists and terrorism. Pakistan is only concerned with U.S. money and once that dries up... back to the same old stuff. (my opinion). End all U.S. monetary aid to foreign countries.
 @Funky-Munky if they did not have da bom.b, maybe, but as it stands right now, we better stay on top of thisÂ
 Why yes because swappin' spit with the enemy works so well... barf. Our country is dying because of that logic! @Komo Dragon