The Pakistani military today described a 14-year-old boy who died while preventing a suicide attack on his school as a "martyr" who had sacrificed his "today for our better tomorrow".
"Brigadier Nadeem Zaki Manj, Local Commander in Hangu, visited the grave of young student Aitzaz Hussain (shaheed), who sacrificed his life to save hundreds of his school fellows from a suicide attack, laid a floral wreath on behalf of (the army chief) and offered (prayers)," said a statement from the the military's media wing.
Manj conveyed army chief Gen Raheel Sharif's tributes to the boy's family.
"Chief of Army Staff said that the nation is proud of this young hero who has set a sterling example of bravery and sacrifice at a young age...And has sacrificed his today for our better tomorrow," the statement said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday decided to confer the Sitara-e-Shujaat, one of Pakistan's highest awards for bravery, on the boy.
Aitzaz, a Class IX student, died on Monday when the suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the government-run school in Hangu district after he was stopped by the boy.
