- Name: Aitzaz Hasan.
- Profession: Student.
- Hometown: Hangu KPK Pakistan.
- Date of Shahadat: 6th January 2014.
- Place of Shahadat: Outside his school in Hangu village.
- Medals and awards: Sitara-e-Shujaat (posthumous).
- Global bravery award by International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
- Person of the year 2014 by Herald.
- A film named “Salute” in his honor.
Pakistanis are the most resilient people in the world, We don’t bend we don’t bow down in pressure and extreme difficult times on the contrary we stand firm and face the cold winds of time with our head held high with pride and dignity. Pakistan nation has stood firm and resilient against many calamities and harsh times like earthquake, floods and most recent one the scourge of terrorism. Pakistani nation has proven from time to time that once we are in difficult times the whole nation unites and we produce heroes in such times of crisis. One such hero was a just a schoolboy from Hangu village who stood his ground and became a “HUMAN WALL OF RESISTANCE” against terrorism. If someone asks why Pakistanis are most resilient nation in the world the answer simply is just look at Aitzaz Hasan. The whole resilience of Pakistani nation is personified by just one schoolboy.
On the cold day of 6th January 2014 many students were playing outside their school in Hangu village, few students saw one man covered in winter shawl approaching their school, they asked him where are you going? He said he wants to get admission in the school, the students were surprised how come an aged man be enrolled in secondary school. Meanwhile one student spotted a detonator on him and shouted he is a terrorist and suicide bomber. Many students ran away which was a very natural reaction to the threat they were facing but Aitzaz Hasan didn’t. When Aitzaz heard all the shouting and screaming of students and noticed that suspicious man was still moving towards the school he instead of running for his own life opted to tackle and stop the approaching terrorist. He first threw stones at him which missed the approaching terrorist and failed to stop him then Aitzaz hasan decided to move towards him, he was a very healthy and heavy boy he used all his might and power to grab the approaching terrorist, he pinned the terrorist down on the ground. Terrorist tried his level best to get rid of the holds but Aitzaz did not let him go. In state of panic and sheer cowardice the terrorist blew himself along with Aitzaz Hasan.
School children were stunned and shocked by the bomb blast later they realized the true impact of heroics of Aitzaz Hasan, he had sacrificed his life to protect his fellow students. The bravery and courage of just one boy Aitzaz Hasan prevent an APS kind of Massacre in which countless innocents were ruthlessly and mercilessly slaughtered. He sacrificed his life and made his parents sorrow, but he made sure many parents of his village will not have to go through the grief of losing a child. He made his mother weep but saved countless other mothers from tears of pain. He sacrificed his life and future but made sure that his friends will live on and future of Pakistani nation will be bright. His own life was lost in this act of bravery but not a single student was injured in this cowardly attack.
He was just a boy, just a 9th standard student he was not a trained soldier he did not signed up for this situation but when faced with a challenge he approached the threat head on. He could have run away just like other children and no one would have blamed him for that. It was quite natural for him to save his life but even after knowing that he could be killed he decided to save his school and fellow students, this is the true spirit of Pakistani nation. He was not a soldier, but his heroics actions and his sacrifice were no less than any other soldier of Pakistani Military.
His parents were poor his father went to UAE to earn living for his family. His father was still in UAE when attack happened on his school. His father came back to Pakistan after his death. Upon his arrival Aitzaz’s father said that his son made a sacrifice to save the lives of others: His father with tears in his eyes said “My son made his mother cry but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children.”
His Heroic act of courage and bravery was recognized by the whole nation. His fellow students did not forget him and day after his death his class fellows kept a picture of him on his seat where he used to sit during class lectures.
The Minister for Information in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Shah Farman, said that Aitzaz was a “real hero and true face of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.
Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif saluted the heroic efforts of Aitzaz hasan and said that Aitzaz Hasan is “a national hero, who has sacrificed his today for our tomorrow.”
Malala Yousafzai, winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, described Aitzaz as “brave and courageous” and said “his bravery must never be forgotten”. She pledged to donate £5000 to Hasan’s family.
On 12 January 2014, the government of Pakistan stated that they will establish a fund for Aitizaz Hasan and his family. On 14 January 2014, the KPK provincial governmental also announced a Rs 5 million package for the family of Aitzaz and renamed his school as the Aitzaz Hasan Shaheed High School in his honor and tribute.
In 2016, a film named Salute was released to honor him and to pay tribute to him. One hostel block was constructed at College of EME and it was named Aitzaz Hasan Block.
Many people demanded that the Nishan-e-Haider, or a similar award, be awarded to Aitzaz Hasan posthumously. The office of Pakistan Prime Minister then recommended President to confer Aitzaz Hasan with the highest civil award Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery). The award was presented to Hasan’s family on 23 March during Pakistan’s national day.
On 12 January 2014, the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) bestowed a global bravery award on Hasan.
Aitzaz was named as Herald’s Person of the year 2014. Pakistan is a country which is blessed with brave people. The story of Aitzaz Hasan reflects reliance, courage, bravery and ever readiness of Pakistani nation to give the supreme sacrifice of their lives to protect their fellow countrymen.
He died for his fellow students he died for his school he died for his religion Islam he died to save his country, he is a Shaheed and Pakistani nation must remember such brave people who lived amongst us but they sacrificed their lives, their today for our better tomorrow. Nations which do not remember
recognizing or honor their martyrs are doomed to fall. We Pakistanis will never ever forget any single person who stood against all odds and gave the supreme sacrifice during fighting the biggest scourge on Pakistan i.e. terrorism.
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