ISLAMABAD: Today, Pakistan is observing the 11th death anniversary of Aitzaz Hassan, a young heroic ninth class student who sacrificed his life to save almost 2000 students from a terrorist attack on a school in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On 6th January 2014, a tragic event unfolded outside the gates of Government High School, Ibrahimzai, in Hangu, where a Aitzaz Hassan met death trying to shield his school from a suicide bomber.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Aitzaz was standing outside the school gate with two other schoolmates when a young man around the age of 20-25 approached the gates, claiming he was there to “take admission.” Aitzaz suspected something strange in the outsider and suspected threat.
Aitzaz immediately shifted to survival mode and stopped the terrorist from further entering into the school. Upon closer look Aitzaz noticed that the person was wearing an unusual vest, whereupon all other students ran towards the classes to raise the alarm.
As Aitzaz instincts became stronger, he hugged the bomber tightly, due to which the explosive vest that the bomber was wearing suddenly exploded tearing Aitzaz’s body into million pieces.
The bomb was so strong that the sound of its explosion could be heard miles away.
That day more than 2000 students and teaching faculty remained safe and sound due to Aitzaz’s act of bravery. without thinking about his life and other consequences Aitzaz jumped right into the action and became a national hero.
Awards and Honors
After this courageous act, many people demanded that the Nishan-e-Haider, or a similar award, should be awarded to Aitzaz Hasan posthumously.
However, the office of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif then recommended President Mamnoon Husain to confer Aitzaz Hasan with the high civil award Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery).
The award was received by 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. Herald’s annual Person of the Year project sets out to recognize those individuals in Pakistan who had a profound influence on the news and who embodied, for good or ill, what was important about the year.
