RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has said Aitzaz Hasan Bangash is a national hero and his sacrifice cannot be forgotten, says an ISPR press release.
In a message conveyed to the family of the martyred schoolboy through Brigadier Nadeem Zaki Manj, Local Commander in Hangu, General Raheel Sharif paid rich tributes to the bereaved family on the bravery and sacrifice of Aitzaz Hasan. The COAS said, “The nation is proud of the young hero who has set a sterling example of bravery and sacrifice at a young age of 15 and has sacrificed his today for our better tomorrow.”
Mushtaq Yusufzai adds from Hangu: On behalf of General Raheel Sharif, Brig Nadeem Zaki Manj and senior military officials along with Deputy Commissioner Hangu district Said Ahmad Jan, paid rich tributes to Aitzaz for his heroic deed and laid a floral wreath at his grave here Saturday.
Also, the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar recommended the slain student for the Tamgha-e-Shujaat gallantry award for his extraordinary act that saved the lives of students and teachers.
However, the father of the slain student and local residents complained that not a single government official or politician had bothered to even make a phone call and condole with him over the loss of his son.
“I have no regret over what my brave son has done. I am proud of his bravery and sacrifice that saved many precious lives,” Aitzaz’s father told this correspondent at his residence in the Ibrahimzai village of Hangu district.
“Where is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, its chief minister and ministers? I will not complain about them. Even our local MNA and MPA failed to come for condolence,” he said. Mujahid Ali was working as a driver in the UAE when the came to know about the tragic death of his young son.
Like other family members, the his tragic death is a huge shock for his elder son, Mujtaba Hassan, 28.
Brig Nadeem Zaki Mand, Pakistan Army commander in Hangu, visited the grave of Aitzaz Hasan and appreciated his sacrifice of preventing a suicide bomber from entering the school and carrying out a suicide attack there.
He also met Aitzaz’s father Mujahid Ali and conveyed to him the rich tributes of General Raheel Sharif on his bravery.
Col Nadeem, who is head of the ISPR in Peshawar, also visited the grave of Aitzaz along with Brig Zaki and laid a floral wreath on behalf of Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani, while Col Kamran did the same on behalf of Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Ghayyur Mahmood.
The military officials also paid a cash amount to the family of the slain student and another student, Muzahid Ali, a student of class 8, who first intercepted the suicide bomber and asked him why he was going to the school as he wasn’t a student of the school, the Government High School Ibrahimzai.
“Since all the students know each other, therefore when I saw him arriving in a mini passenger coach, I asked him why he was going to the school. He told me he wanted to take admission there. He was dressed in a school uniform and I saw a hand grenade in his hand. When I tried to search his body, I found he was wearing an explosives-laden jacket,” said Muzahid. “I realised he was a bomber and asked him to stay there and that I would talk to the principal. I was frightened and didn’t know what to do but it was good the bomber too became nervous and changed his direction and started walking towards where Aitzaz was coming to the school. I started shouting that he is a suicide bomber and them he blew himself up near him,” Muzahid Ali, recalled.
Local residents, schoolteachers and fellow students said Muzahid Ali had played a key role and saved many people. Therefore, they demanded, he should also be given an award.
AFP adds from Islamabad: Aitzaz Hasan has been honoured with the country’s highest award for bravery.
The Prime Minister’s Office said it had advised President Mamnoon Hussain “to approve the conferment of Sitara-e-Shujaat to Shaheed Aitzaz Hasan. Shaheed Aitzaz’s brave act saved the lives of hundreds of students and established a sterling example of gallantry and patriotism,” it said in a statement issued late on Friday.
An official from the Prime Minister’s Office told AFP on Saturday that Aitzaz Hasan’s family is expected to receive the posthumous award on March 23, Pakistan’s National Day, following the president’s ceremonial approval.
