Army doctors shift move Malala Yousafzai, 14, to an army hospital following an attack by gunmen in Rawalpindi.
ISLAMABAD – Schools across Pakistan have held prayers in support of Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old peace campaigner shot by the Taliban earlier this week who is fighting for her life in a military hospital.
The prayers in schools and other places across Pakistan on October 12 came in response to a call by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government for people around the country to express solidarity with Yousafzai.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf visited Yousafzai on October 12 as the gravely wounded schoolgirl recovers in the Rawalpindi hospital.
"The extremists attacked Malala for what she stands for because they were scared of the power of her vision," Ashraf said. "She had a simple message -- the right for girls to be educated. Malala is a true Pakistani and is the real face of Pakistan. We will not allow any one to destroy the face of Pakistan."
Military spokesman Asim Bajwa told reporters on October 12 that the girl's condition was satisfactory.
"Now, as per reports of the neurosurgical and intensive care unit specialists, Malala's health condition is stable," Bajwa said.
Yousafzai was moved on October 11 to the hospital in Rawalpindi, one of the nation's best-equipped medical facilities, from Peshawar.
She was shot in the head and neck on October 9 by a gunman as she returned home from a girls' school in the volatile northwestern Swat Valley. Two other girls were less seriously injured.
Pakistani police said on October 12 that they had arrested a number of suspects in the case. But officials declined to give any details about the number of those arrested or what roles they are suspected of having in the shooting.
Malala Yousafzai: The Face Of Resistance To The Taliban
1/12A photo of Malala Yousafzai taken in Islamabad in March 2012
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
2/12Army doctors treat Malala at a military hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove a bullet.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
3/12 A girl holds a photograph of Malala during a rally in Karachi.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
4/12Islamist activists in Lahore carry photographs of Malala during a protest against the assassination attempt.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
5/12Members of Pakistan's Aman Tehrik (Peace Movement) protest in Peshawar.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
6/12Peace Movement activists gather in Peshawar.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
7/12Civil society activists carry candles to pay tribute to Malala in Lahore.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
8/12A Pashtun students' group protests against the militant attack.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
9/12Schoolgirls pray for Malala's recovery in Multan.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
10/12Malala is transported from a helicopter to an army hospital by doctors.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
11/12Christians attend a mass praying for the early recovery of Malala at Fatima Church in Islamabad.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
12/12Civil society activists and journalists in Islamabad carry candles during continuing protests against the assassination attempt.
Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old from Pakistan’s Swat district, was known for her blog denouncing Taliban atrocities and advocating for girls’ education. On October 9, a gunman opened fire on her school minibus as Yousafzai and classmates rode home from school, seriously wounding her. As Yousafzai recovers in a hospital, activists, religious leaders, students, and teachers across Pakistan are rallying to support her and condemn the attack.
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On October 11, protesters held a candle rally in Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi to express solidarity with Yousafzai and condemn the attack.
Meanwhile, one of Pakistan's most prominent religious organizations, the Sunni Ittehad Council, has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, condemning the attack on Yousafzai and also calling suicide attacks haram, or forbidden in Islam.
"Islamic Shari'a does not allow [such] attacks anywhere and the suicide attackers will go to hell and will be expelled from Islam," said Mufti Muhammad Sharif, a leader of the Sunni Ittehad Council. "We strongly condemn the attack on Malala Yousafzai. This attack is un-Islamic and unethical."
The fatwa is seen as part of growing anger across Pakistan with militants and terrorism following the attack on Yousafzai.
RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal is a public-service broadcaster providing a powerful alternative to extremist propaganda in Pakistan's remote tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan.
