HANGU: Glowing tributes were paid to 16-year old Aitzaz Hassan on his first death anniversary for sacrificing his life to stop a suicide bomber from targetting his school in the Ibrahimzai village near here on Tuesday. ANP’s central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) Deputy Secretary General Allama Amin Shahidi, senior journalist Hamid Mir, civil and military officials and a large number of locals people attended the event held in Ibrahimzai village in Hangu district to pay homage to the teenager hero. “Aitzaz sacrificed his life and saved hundreds of students. His sacrifice attained recognition after the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16,” commented Mian Iftikhar Hussain, whose only son, Mian Rashid Hussain, was also killed by the militants some years ago in the family’s Pabbi village in Nowshera district. Other speakers also highlighted the importance of Aitzaz Hassan’s supreme sacrifice. They said that the teenager had showed to the world that the Pakhtuns were not terrorists. “Pakhtuns like Aitzaz gave their life fighting against the terrorists,” one of the speakers stressed. Aitzaz Hassan’s family members expressed pride in his sacrifice. “His sacrifice has strengthened the resolve of the nation to fight the forces of darkness,” said one of his relatives.“I am proud of Aitzaz who saved hundreds of lives,” said his elder brother. His relatives, however, lamented that no provincial and federal minister visited their village on the occasion of his first death anniversary.Aitzaz Hassan, a ninth grade student was on his way to school on the morning of January 6, 2014 when he spotted a suspicious person. He asked him to stop but the suicide bomber ignored Aitzaz Hassan’s warning and hurried towards the school. Aitzaz Hassan ran towards the bomber and grabbed him. In desperation, the bomber detonated his suicide vest killing Aitzaz Hassan.At the time, the school was packed with students, teachers and other employees who had assembled in the grounds for the morning assembly. The bomber could have caused havoc had he entered the school and detonated his suicide jacket.
