A heroic 15-year-old Pakistani sacrificed his life to protect his classmates by tackling a terrorist bomber who was going to blow up his school. Aitzaz Hasan, from the Hangu region of northwest Pakistan, saw the terrorist approach the school with a bomb belt. Aitzaz’s cousin, Mudassar Hassan Bangish, said Aitzaz told him, “I’m going to stop him. He is going to school to kill my friends.” Bangish told BBC that Aitzaz “wanted to capture this suicide bomber. He wanted to stop [him]. Meanwhile the suicide bomber blasted himself which resulted in the death of my cousin.”
The Hangu region has been torn apart by Al Qaeda and Taliban violence.
Aitzaz’s father Mujahid Ali said, “my son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children.” Bangish said Aitzaz “always used to say ‘I am always ready for my country.'”
Journalist Nasim Zehra tweeted, “we the citizens believe that State of Pakistan must award Nishan-i-Haider to Pakistan’s brave son shahid (martyr) Aitzaz.” Nishan-i-Haider is Pakistan’s highest honor, reserved for those who give their lives for their country.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman echoed in her tweet, “Hangu’s shahid (martyr) Aitzaz Hasan is Pakistan’s pride. Give him a medal at least. Another young one with heartstopping courage.”