Pakistan prays for Malala

Islamabad, Oct 12 (IANS) Pakistan Friday observed Youm-e-Dua to pray for early recovery of teenaged peace campaigner Malala Yousufzai who was shot and critically injured by the Taliban.

Geo News said that one minute silence will also be observed in this regard.

Malala has been shifted to Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi where she is on ventilator.

An official said that surgery has been carried out to lessen the swelling in her brain.

Malala was shot at by the Taliban when she was returning home from school in Swat Valley in the country’s northwest, an attack that sparked outrage across the country and condemnation from world leaders.

Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said Thursday that all mosques in the province have been requested to hold special prayers for Malala after Friday prayers.

The prayers will be held for Malala’s complete recovery, he added.

“I say complete recovery because when the brain is damaged, there are a lot of possibilities of disabilities even if the life is safe… So I appeal for prayers for the complete recovery of Malala and her injured friends,” he was quoted as saying.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif too appealed to the nation to observe Friday as Youm-e-Dua for the early recovery of Malala.

He said special prayers for Malala’s early recovery would be offered in government offices, educational institutions, mosques and places of worships for minorities throughout the province.

IANS 2012-10-12 11:34:19