As teen recovers from Taliban hit, Pakistanis demand answers - CNN.com
By Shaan Khan , CNN
October 16, 2012 -- Updated 0222 GMT (1022 HKT)
CNN.com
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A Pakistani teenage activist shot in the head by
the Taliban for demanding an education has left her beloved country for
specialized medical treatment in Britain.
The Taliban's attempted assassination last week of Malala Yousufzai, 14, has
sparked outrage inside Pakistan and around the world, transforming the young
blogger into an international symbol of defiance against the radical Islamist
group that continues to wield influence in parts of Pakistan.
After Tuesday's attack, Malala was treated immediately by Pakistani doctors who
later removed a bullet lodged in her neck. She was airlifted Monday to a
hospital in Birmingham, England, that treats the country's war casualties.
There she will be treated by neurosurgery specialists. Her recovery could take
months, doctors said.
Authorities in Pakistan said they are moving forward with their investigation
into the attack. The country's interior minister, Rehman Malik, offered a $1
million bounty Monday for Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.
Most Pakistanis consider the Taliban murderous ideologues, and the young girl's
willingness to risk her life to attend school -- despite the Taliban's
opposition to education for girls-- has struck a nerve.
One of the largest rallies supporting Malala took place Sunday in Karachi,
Pakistan's largest city, where men, women and their children held signs that
said, "Shame on you, Taliban." Others held signs condemning terrorism.
Massive posters and billboards said, "Malala, our prayers are with you." At
another rally in the capital of Islamabad, protesters held candles and prayed
for the girl's recovery.
Pakistanis outraged by Taliban attack
iReport: Your views on girls' education
$1 million bounty for Malala attackers
Malala began gaining international attention in 2009 as the Taliban gained a
foothold in her home region of Swat, a Taliban-heavy valley in northwest
Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan. Malala's father operated one of the
few schools that defied the Taliban by keeping its doors open to girls.
Teen shot by Taliban arrives in the UK
At 11 years old, Malala started writing a blog for the BBC about what it was
like to try to get an education under the constant threat of death by Islamist
extremists. Her touching diary earned her both national and international
praise.
General describes attack on Malala
"I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taleban,"
she wrote. "I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation
in Swat. My mother made me breakfast and I went off to school. I was afraid
going to school because the Taleban had issued an edict banning all girls from
attending schools."
Millions of children face Malala's fight for an education
Now, Malala's supporters are demanding the government thoroughly investigate
who stopped a van carrying Malala and her classmates, as they returned from
school in the Swat Valley last Tuesday.
Gunmen jumped inside the van and ordered students to point out Malala.
Horrified, they did. The men began shooting, hitting Malala in the head and
neck. Two other girls were also wounded.
In recent days, as Malala breathed with the help of a ventilator in Pakistani
medical facilities, the Taliban trumpeted its responsibility for the shooting.
They vowed that if she survives, they'll come after her again, and next time
finish her.
'I am Malala'
Malala's story of defiance and survival has triggered an online flurry of
petitions and support pages rallying for Malala and her fight for girls'
education. An online "I Am Malala" petition, signed by celebrities and leaders,
is demanding that girls get better access to education. The petition will be
presented to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and U.N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon.
Another online petition telling authorities to arrest Malala's attackers and
end ties between the government and extremists had more than 10,000 signatures
by mid-day Monday.
"All our law enforcers, intelligence agencies are hunting all those who were
involved. I have got some other names which I would not like to mention on
record because it may damage the investigation. But let me (as)sure my
Pakistani nation, and the entire world, that we will get them very soon,"
Interior Minister Malik told CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
He said the attack plan was hatched in Afghanistan, and vowed to hold those
responsible to account "very soon."
"Four people came from there. ... One of the guys, we have identified and (a)
few of his associates have been arrested. One of -- the fiancee of one of the
terrorists has been detained, and all possible leads which we have developed
... we are following it," the minister said, adding that the government has
provided security to Malala's family and to two girls who were wounded in the
same attack.
The name "Malala" has been trending on Twitter and has mobilized a large
following on Facebook.
She also has attracted the attention of international leaders, including former
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who wrote in a CNN commentary that the
attack on Malala highlights the plight of "61 million young children like
Malala who will not go to school today or any other day."
And, last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned Malala's
bravery at a gathering of Girl Scouts in Washington. She said the attack on the
teen should inspire support for other young women around the world who
"struggle against tradition and culture and even outright hostility," to lay
claim to their rights.
Even Madonna shouted Malala's name at a Los Angeles concert last week to the
wild applause of fans and dedicated her hit "Human Nature" to the girl.
In Pakistan, young girls are wearing "I am Malala" T-shirts to show their
solidarity with the teen activist.
Attack on teen blogger consumes Pakistan
Malala is expected to be hospitalized for "weeks if not months," said David
Rosser, executive medical director of University Hospitals Birmingham.
Rosser declined to discuss details of Malala's condition, but said the decision
to fly her to the United Kingdom from Pakistan was a sign that her medical team
hopes she will pull through.
"They wouldn't be going through all this, if there wasn't a good hope of
recovery," he said.
When Malala was rushed to a hospital in the northwestern city of Peshawar after
she was shot, doctors tried to reduce swelling in her brain and removed the
bullet in her neck. She was later transferred to a military hospital in
Rawalpindi outside Islamabad.
At Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, she will need to have the damaged
bones in her skull repaired or replaced as well as intensive neurological
rehabilitation, the Pakistani military said Monday. Malala's family has been
kept up on every step of her treatment, officials say.
On Amanpour: The Malalas you'll never meet
"Malala will now receive specialist medical care in an NHS hospital," said
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, referring to the country's National
Health Service. "Our thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this
difficult time."
'I have the right'
Malala spoke to CNN last year about her blog and her brave assertion that girls
should go to school.
"I have the right of education," she said. "I have the right to play. I have
the right to sing. I have the right to talk. I have the right to go to market.
I have the right to speak up."
Opinion: One girl's courage in the face of Taliban cowardice
Her writing earned her Pakistan's first National Peace Prize and encouraged
young people to take a stand against the Taliban -- and to not hide in their
bedrooms.
But the instability of the region was highlighted late Sunday in an attack by
scores of militants on a police outpost that killed six officers, police said.
On her blog, Malala often wrote about her life in Swat Valley, a hotbed of
militant activity.
The valley once attracted tourists to Pakistan's only ski resort, as well as
visitors to the ancient Buddhist ruins in the area. But that was before
militants -- their faces covered -- unleashed a wave of violence in 2003.
They demanded veils for women, beards for men and a ban on music and
television. They allowed boys' schools to operate but closed those for girls.
Learn more about how you can help at CNN Impact Your World
CNN's Saskya Vandoorne and journalist Nasir Habib contributed to this report.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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