HANGU: “‘I am always ready for my country–I am Aitzaz. Nation salutes you little hero Aitzaz Hassan as you sacrificed your life to save your schoolmates from being killed in a botched suicide attack. A nine-grader hero, Aitzaz Hassan you sacrificed your life to save your schoolmates from being killed in a botched suicide attack in Hangu. Nation is sorry as we harboured these barbarics in past and now we understand we have to fight against them and we need more braves like you. Our soldiers —our Jawans are given their lives to save this country and you are one of them—You are our icon. You are son of Nation. Government should announce an award for Aitzaz to recognise his bravery and his school should also be named after him.
“The brave soul saw the suicide bomber approaching the building of the Government High School Ibrahimzai after alighted from a passenger van. Ibrahimzai is a Shia-dominated region of Hangu so Salafi Taliban constantly attack schools, markets and bus stands of this area to kill Shia community. There were almost 2,000 students in attendance at the time of the attack so it could be best time for killing Shias students”, commented one of his school friend. The bomber asked Aitzaz and his friends about the school. The nine-grader got suspicious and grabbed the bomber. Aitzaz, 17, clutched onto the bomber, who was also clad in school uniform. In desperation, the bomber blew himself up, killing Aitzaz, who was the only casualty of the bungled bid to hit the school.District Police Officer of Hangu Iftikhar Ahmad had confirmed that the school was the target of the bomber carrying six kilogram of explosives strapped to his body.
Mujahid Ali, father of Aitzaz, is proud of his son who laid down his life for others. Aitzaz was the youngest among his four siblings. He had one elder brother and two married sisters. Mujahid Ali asked the government to announce the “Shaheed Package” for his son in addition to naming the school after him. “He saved the life of 2000 students and set a good example for the youngsters, who would draw courage from his sacrifice,” he said proudly. “My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children,” Mujahid Ali, Aitzaz’s father is quoted as saying.
Cousin of Aitzaz told media that he tried to avoid the situation and told Airzaz that suicide bomber would kill you if you would try to stop but Aitzaz said:
“I’m going to stop him. He is going to school to kill my friends”.
“International media should also highlight his sacrifice and boost the morale of others so they can fight against barbaric and senseless radical Islamist who want to kill every Shia on the land of Pakistan”, accused Ghalib Hussian, a youth of Hungu who was requesting reporters to share Aitizaz story on social media.
