A PAKISTANI schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban is being brought to the
UK for treatment.
Malala Yousafzai, 14, was shot on a bus in front of her friends for speaking
out about the barbaric regime.
She was hitting out against the ban on female education when she was attacked.
The teenager’s life was saved by neurosurgeons in a Pakistani military
hospital and she has since been in intensive care.
But doctors decided she needed “prolonged care” to help her recover from the
physical and psychological effects of the attack.
She will travel to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she will
be treated by NHS staff.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “Last week’s barbaric attack on Malala
Yousafzai and her schoolfriends shocked Pakistan and the world.
“Malala’s bravery in standing up for the right of all young girls in Pakistan
to an education is an example to us all.
“Malala will now receive specialist medical care in an NHS hospital. Our
thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this difficult time.
“The public revulsion and condemnation of this cowardly attack shows that the
people of Pakistan will not be beaten by terrorists. The UK stands shoulder
to shoulder with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.”
Malala was shot with two classmates as they made their way home from school in
Swat, in the north west of Pakistan.
She was attacked by the Taliban for promoting the education of girls and
criticising the militant group.
The girl is being transferred to Britain by an air ambulance arranged by the
United Arab Emirates, the Pakistani army said.
In a statement it said: “The panel of doctors recommended that Malala be
shifted abroad to a UK centre which has the capability to provide integrated
care to children who have sustained severe injury.
“Pakistan has arranged with the UAE for a specially equipped air ambulance
which will be used to transfer Malala to the UK. In order to provide
continuity of care, an army intensive care specialist will accompany Malala
on her flight.
“All expenses including transportation of Malala by specially equipped air
ambulance and treatment abroad will be borne by the government of Pakistan.”
Former prime minister Gordon Brown, who is UN Special Envoy for Global
Education, said he would be visiting Pakistan next month to speak to
President Asif Ali Zardari about girls’ education.
He said: “I know that Britain will offer Malala the best treatment possible
and the British people will welcome her, hoping and praying for her
recovery.”
He added: “Today we are launching on a petition under the headline ’I am
Malala’ in support of what Malala fought for – that every girl has the
chance to go to school.
“Today, sadly, 32 million girls are not going to school and it is time to
fight harder for Malala’s dream to come true.”