16th of December 2014 it started just as any other day would my father was a
any other day would my father was a
any other day would my father was a military officer and I am in a military
military officer and I am in a military
military officer and I am in a military base my school wasn’t a military base
base my school wasn’t a military base
base my school wasn’t a military base and I was in ninth grade I woke up pack
and I was in ninth grade I woke up pack
and I was in ninth grade I woke up pack my bag had breakfast and went to school
my bag had breakfast and went to school
my bag had breakfast and went to school I met some of my friends and it’s some
I met some of my friends and it’s some
I met some of my friends and it’s some leftover homework but of course nobody
leftover homework but of course nobody
leftover homework but of course nobody anticipated it would lay ahead at around
anticipated it would lay ahead at around
anticipated it would lay ahead at around 10:00 when one of the school staff
10:00 when one of the school staff
10:00 when one of the school staff member came to our class and told us
member came to our class and told us
member came to our class and told us that we have to build with auditorium I
that we have to build with auditorium I
that we have to build with auditorium I personally was very happy because I had
personally was very happy because I had
personally was very happy because I had my biology class going on and I never
my biology class going on and I never
my biology class going on and I never liked biology and I thought it I would
liked biology and I thought it I would
liked biology and I thought it I would have some free time I was a member of
have some free time I was a member of
have some free time I was a member of school council so whenever there was a
school council so whenever there was a
school council so whenever there was a school function school event I had to
school function school event I had to
school function school event I had to get the students to make use and direct
get the students to make use and direct
get the students to make use and direct them to the auditorium when we went to
them to the auditorium when we went to
them to the auditorium when we went to the auditorium
the auditorium
the auditorium I met the principal and she told us that
I met the principal and she told us that
I met the principal and she told us that we would learn how to give a CPR and
we would learn how to give a CPR and
we would learn how to give a CPR and more about Thursday 8th 9th and 10th
more about Thursday 8th 9th and 10th
more about Thursday 8th 9th and 10th graders were there and go to go him at
graders were there and go to go him at
graders were there and go to go him at that time she delivered her initial
that time she delivered her initial
that time she delivered her initial address and then the doctor came on
address and then the doctor came on
address and then the doctor came on stage as he came I heard something from
stage as he came I heard something from
stage as he came I heard something from the back of your DeLorean my school
the back of your DeLorean my school
the back of your DeLorean my school sports director was standing beside me
sports director was standing beside me
sports director was standing beside me and I asked him about the noise and as
and I asked him about the noise and as
and I asked him about the noise and as my school was in the military base he
my school was in the military base he
my school was in the military base he knew he just told me that army might be
knew he just told me that army might be
knew he just told me that army might be have a
have a
have a somewhere nearby or they might be
somewhere nearby or they might be
somewhere nearby or they might be repairing something so it was completely
repairing something so it was completely
repairing something so it was completely normal
the principal asked us to close all the
the principal asked us to close all the doors so that we can concentrate on the
doors so that we can concentrate on the
doors so that we can concentrate on the lecture the doctor resumed his lecture
lecture the doctor resumed his lecture
lecture the doctor resumed his lecture again but after five or six minutes
again but after five or six minutes
again but after five or six minutes three or two or three men knocked the
three or two or three men knocked the
three or two or three men knocked the back door very hard I knew that
back door very hard I knew that
back door very hard I knew that something was wrong so I started walking
something was wrong so I started walking
something was wrong so I started walking towards the stage through the aisle
towards the stage through the aisle
towards the stage through the aisle while all my classmates were sitting
while all my classmates were sitting
while all my classmates were sitting after three or four knocks they knocked
after three or four knocks they knocked
after three or four knocks they knocked down the door and I saw a man wearing
down the door and I saw a man wearing
down the door and I saw a man wearing black holding two automatic guns and he
black holding two automatic guns and he
black holding two automatic guns and he started indiscriminate shooting he
started indiscriminate shooting he
started indiscriminate shooting he didn’t waste any time at all I started
didn’t waste any time at all I started
didn’t waste any time at all I started running towards the stage and that was
running towards the stage and that was
running towards the stage and that was the most horrific moment of my life I
the most horrific moment of my life I
the most horrific moment of my life I saw my friends and teachers falling down
saw my friends and teachers falling down
saw my friends and teachers falling down after being shot in the head or torso
after being shot in the head or torso
after being shot in the head or torso and I couldn’t do anything to save them
and I couldn’t do anything to save them
and I couldn’t do anything to save them I was saving my own life I went near the
I was saving my own life I went near the
I was saving my own life I went near the stage the students were able to open
stage the students were able to open
stage the students were able to open this brand-new doors which were close to
this brand-new doors which were close to
this brand-new doors which were close to some of them left auditorium but the
some of them left auditorium but the
some of them left auditorium but the terrorists attacked those two doors so
terrorists attacked those two doors so
terrorists attacked those two doors so that the students wouldn’t leave and
that the students wouldn’t leave and
that the students wouldn’t leave and there was a stampede I just couldn’t
there was a stampede I just couldn’t
there was a stampede I just couldn’t figure out how do we go to hurry while I
figure out how do we go to hurry while I
figure out how do we go to hurry while I was there my English teacher was lying
was there my English teacher was lying
was there my English teacher was lying down beside the stage and she yelled at
down beside the stage and she yelled at
down beside the stage and she yelled at me to come down a light on her I didn’t
me to come down a light on her I didn’t
me to come down a light on her I didn’t have any other option so I just did what
have any other option so I just did what
have any other option so I just did what she said and laid down beside him
she said and laid down beside him
she said and laid down beside him another student with chest injuries
another student with chest injuries
another student with chest injuries laying down about me and all his blood
laying down about me and all his blood
laying down about me and all his blood was pouring on my mounting tones I
was pouring on my mounting tones I
was pouring on my mounting tones I couldn’t even breathe I didn’t know that
couldn’t even breathe I didn’t know that
couldn’t even breathe I didn’t know that my left ear was injured until I saw my
my left ear was injured until I saw my
my left ear was injured until I saw my white shirt turned red
I stayed there for 20 minutes the
I stayed there for 20 minutes the shooting stopped but I heard someone
shooting stopped but I heard someone
shooting stopped but I heard someone kicking with his heavy moons I didn’t
kicking with his heavy moons I didn’t
kicking with his heavy moons I didn’t know what it was or who was doing it I
know what it was or who was doing it I
know what it was or who was doing it I just preferred to lie down there the
just preferred to lie down there the
just preferred to lie down there the kicking sound was becoming louder and
kicking sound was becoming louder and
kicking sound was becoming louder and louder until someone kicked me two times
louder until someone kicked me two times
louder until someone kicked me two times just to check if I’m alive or not it was
just to check if I’m alive or not it was
just to check if I’m alive or not it was a matter of two lives my English teacher
a matter of two lives my English teacher
a matter of two lives my English teacher and myself the terrorists were targeting
and myself the terrorists were targeting
and myself the terrorists were targeting female teachers they’ve always been
female teachers they’ve always been
female teachers they’ve always been against females they don’t want females
against females they don’t want females
against females they don’t want females to be part of a civilized community it
to be part of a civilized community it
to be part of a civilized community it is not about the religion it is just
is not about the religion it is just
is not about the religion it is just very cultured Islam has always given
very cultured Islam has always given
very cultured Islam has always given rights to women and they allow women to
rights to women and they allow women to
rights to women and they allow women to be part of the society I just laid down
be part of the society I just laid down
be part of the society I just laid down there and after making sure that I was
there and after making sure that I was
there and after making sure that I was among the dead other dead students that
among the dead other dead students that
among the dead other dead students that there is left the auditorium along with
there is left the auditorium along with
there is left the auditorium along with his accomplices when they left a student
his accomplices when they left a student
his accomplices when they left a student shouted with they’re gone
shouted with they’re gone
shouted with they’re gone so I looked up and I saw some of the
so I looked up and I saw some of the
so I looked up and I saw some of the students jumping all over the dead
students jumping all over the dead
students jumping all over the dead bodies and going to the dressing room
bodies and going to the dressing room
bodies and going to the dressing room which was just beside the stage I also
which was just beside the stage I also
which was just beside the stage I also preferred to go there it was a small
preferred to go there it was a small
preferred to go there it was a small wooden room and I thought that that
wooden room and I thought that that
wooden room and I thought that that terrorists wouldn’t go there when I went
terrorists wouldn’t go there when I went
terrorists wouldn’t go there when I went there I saw two teachers one of them was
there I saw two teachers one of them was
there I saw two teachers one of them was injured two unarmed soldiers who were
injured two unarmed soldiers who were
injured two unarmed soldiers who were helping the doctor deliver the lecture
helping the doctor deliver the lecture
helping the doctor deliver the lecture and around 10 or 15 students we were
and around 10 or 15 students we were
and around 10 or 15 students we were just settling down when one of the
just settling down when one of the
just settling down when one of the teachers had the cell phone and she gave
teachers had the cell phone and she gave
teachers had the cell phone and she gave it to one of the soldiers to call the
it to one of the soldiers to call the
it to one of the soldiers to call the rescue team while he was doing that to
rescue team while he was doing that to
rescue team while he was doing that to all the terrorists walking with walking
all the terrorists walking with walking
all the terrorists walking with walking beside auditorium would hurt overheard
beside auditorium would hurt overheard
beside auditorium would hurt overheard us and he came back to the dressing room
us and he came back to the dressing room
us and he came back to the dressing room another strange shouted the day
another strange shouted the day
another strange shouted the day okay and I just couldn’t believe it I
okay and I just couldn’t believe it I
okay and I just couldn’t believe it I thought that I was safe once but I won’t
thought that I was safe once but I won’t
thought that I was safe once but I won’t be safe again
be safe again
be safe again I started reciting the Holy Quran and I
I started reciting the Holy Quran and I
I started reciting the Holy Quran and I consider that the last moments of my
consider that the last moments of my
consider that the last moments of my life I lay down there eyes shut didn’t
life I lay down there eyes shut didn’t
life I lay down there eyes shut didn’t show any movement he came and killed the
show any movement he came and killed the
show any movement he came and killed the students and teachers he taught her life
students and teachers he taught her life
students and teachers he taught her life and that when he left I felt something
and that when he left I felt something
and that when he left I felt something burning as if my body was burning I
burning as if my body was burning I
burning as if my body was burning I looked up and to my absolute horror that
looked up and to my absolute horror that
looked up and to my absolute horror that teacher gave the cell phone to the
teacher gave the cell phone to the
teacher gave the cell phone to the soldier was burning then burnt that
soldier was burning then burnt that
soldier was burning then burnt that teacher alive I tried to suppress the
teacher alive I tried to suppress the
teacher alive I tried to suppress the fire with a small toss which was in the
fire with a small toss which was in the
fire with a small toss which was in the dressing room but all my efforts were in
dressing room but all my efforts were in
dressing room but all my efforts were in vain she was already dead I knew that
vain she was already dead I knew that
vain she was already dead I knew that the dressing room was made of wood so
the dressing room was made of wood so
the dressing room was made of wood so even if the terrorists won’t kill me the
even if the terrorists won’t kill me the
even if the terrorists won’t kill me the fire would the only option for me and
fire would the only option for me and
fire would the only option for me and fight with my friends left in auditorium
fight with my friends left in auditorium
fight with my friends left in auditorium was to go back to the stain and lie down
was to go back to the stain and lie down
was to go back to the stain and lie down there even though I wouldn’t save at all
there even though I wouldn’t save at all
there even though I wouldn’t save at all when we went there one of my best
when we went there one of my best
when we went there one of my best friends whose hand was injured asked me
friends whose hand was injured asked me
friends whose hand was injured asked me if we would be able to go back home
if we would be able to go back home
if we would be able to go back home alive and seen see our parents I was so
alive and seen see our parents I was so
alive and seen see our parents I was so shocked to even hear this question and I
shocked to even hear this question and I
shocked to even hear this question and I just couldn’t believe it I just didn’t
just couldn’t believe it I just didn’t
just couldn’t believe it I just didn’t have any answer
have any answer
have any answer and I said left I’m your son and I
and I said left I’m your son and I
and I said left I’m your son and I myself started thinking about my parents
myself started thinking about my parents
myself started thinking about my parents and my brothers and I just wanted to go
and my brothers and I just wanted to go
and my brothers and I just wanted to go back home alive and share the good
back home alive and share the good
back home alive and share the good moments good times I had with them and
moments good times I had with them and
moments good times I had with them and that was the only goal I had at that gun
that was the only goal I had at that gun
that was the only goal I had at that gun we stayed there for far until I saw
we stayed there for far until I saw
we stayed there for far until I saw commando peeking through the window just
commando peeking through the window just
commando peeking through the window just to check
to check
to check anyone anyone else the students are
anyone anyone else the students are
anyone anyone else the students are alive God I made back at him so let me
alive God I made back at him so let me
alive God I made back at him so let me know he know that I’m there
know he know that I’m there
know he know that I’m there he means back at me and went to secure
he means back at me and went to secure
he means back at me and went to secure the area around the Oratory
five or ten minutes past and he came
five or ten minutes past and he came through the dressing room which was
through the dressing room which was
through the dressing room which was fully funded by them he asked me if
fully funded by them he asked me if
fully funded by them he asked me if anyone else was alive and I helped all
anyone else was alive and I helped all
anyone else was alive and I helped all my friends were all booked the
my friends were all booked the
my friends were all booked the auditorium when we went out five or six
auditorium when we went out five or six
auditorium when we went out five or six soldiers formed a circle in form of
soldiers formed a circle in form of
soldiers formed a circle in form of human shield so that the terrorists
human shield so that the terrorists
human shield so that the terrorists wouldn’t kill us
wouldn’t kill us
wouldn’t kill us I ran the worst man wounds
I ran the worst man wounds
I ran the worst man wounds they wrote my name as an injured student
they wrote my name as an injured student
they wrote my name as an injured student and we were on our way to the hospital I
and we were on our way to the hospital I
and we were on our way to the hospital I was so worried about my English teacher
was so worried about my English teacher
was so worried about my English teacher who was with me in the beginning and I
who was with me in the beginning and I
who was with me in the beginning and I was just praying that she is safe and
was just praying that she is safe and
was just praying that she is safe and thankfully she was in the same ambulance
thankfully she was in the same ambulance
thankfully she was in the same ambulance sitting in the front seat she was safe
sitting in the front seat she was safe
sitting in the front seat she was safe when we went to the hospital emergency
when we went to the hospital emergency
when we went to the hospital emergency was declared and I was haunted to see my
was declared and I was haunted to see my
was declared and I was haunted to see my friends and teachers killed or in severe
friends and teachers killed or in severe
friends and teachers killed or in severe pain injured I couldn’t see that so I
pain injured I couldn’t see that so I
pain injured I couldn’t see that so I just went to the corner inside there
just went to the corner inside there
just went to the corner inside there didn’t talk to anyone I just couldn’t
didn’t talk to anyone I just couldn’t
didn’t talk to anyone I just couldn’t believe what just happened
believe what just happened
believe what just happened there were so many other injured
there were so many other injured
there were so many other injured students that they wouldn’t pay any much
students that they wouldn’t pay any much
students that they wouldn’t pay any much attention and this is bandaged me and do
attention and this is bandaged me and do
attention and this is bandaged me and do need to go home I called my brother and
need to go home I called my brother and
need to go home I called my brother and as he was a doctor he unit I would
as he was a doctor he unit I would
as he was a doctor he unit I would require surgery so we went to another
require surgery so we went to another
require surgery so we went to another hospital where where I had a 3-hour long
hospital where where I had a 3-hour long
hospital where where I had a 3-hour long plastic surgery when I woke up from
plastic surgery when I woke up from
plastic surgery when I woke up from anesthesia
anesthesia
anesthesia my father was standing beside me waiting
my father was standing beside me waiting
my father was standing beside me waiting for me to get out and I was so glad to
for me to get out and I was so glad to
for me to get out and I was so glad to see my father again and I just want you
see my father again and I just want you
see my father again and I just want you to share how much I missed him at that
to share how much I missed him at that
to share how much I missed him at that time it was the first and longest day of
time it was the first and longest day of
time it was the first and longest day of my life and I lost seven of my
my life and I lost seven of my
my life and I lost seven of my best friends that day not only me or my
best friends that day not only me or my
best friends that day not only me or my friends were mourning but old Pakistan
friends were mourning but old Pakistan
friends were mourning but old Pakistan was it was a 911 for us there were many
was it was a 911 for us there were many
was it was a 911 for us there were many sleepless nights in which I couldn’t
sleepless nights in which I couldn’t
sleepless nights in which I couldn’t figure out what to do
figure out what to do
figure out what to do it was just like something important in
it was just like something important in
it was just like something important in my life is missing my life was changed
my life is missing my life was changed
my life is missing my life was changed after that attack I was labeled as a
after that attack I was labeled as a
after that attack I was labeled as a terrorist attack survivor and all of the
terrorist attack survivor and all of the
terrorist attack survivor and all of the people wanted to hear my story but what
people wanted to hear my story but what
people wanted to hear my story but what I really wanted was someone to talk to
I really wanted was someone to talk to
I really wanted was someone to talk to someone who could really understand me
someone who could really understand me
someone who could really understand me and that’s when I realized the
and that’s when I realized the
and that’s when I realized the importance of friends in our lives
importance of friends in our lives
importance of friends in our lives nobody can survive on this planet on his
nobody can survive on this planet on his
nobody can survive on this planet on his own and that’s why we need friends to
own and that’s why we need friends to
own and that’s why we need friends to share our problems with them after four
share our problems with them after four
share our problems with them after four months I moved to another city and
months I moved to another city and
months I moved to another city and started at my uncle’s house there in my
started at my uncle’s house there in my
started at my uncle’s house there in my new school I came to know about the
new school I came to know about the
new school I came to know about the exchange program in which students come
exchange program in which students come
exchange program in which students come here in United States live with the host
here in United States live with the host
here in United States live with the host family for 10 months and share their
family for 10 months and share their
family for 10 months and share their culture and their experiences I decided
culture and their experiences I decided
culture and their experiences I decided to come here to tell Americans what I
to come here to tell Americans what I
to come here to tell Americans what I faced and what my friends went through
faced and what my friends went through
faced and what my friends went through we are a courageous nation for fun
we are a courageous nation for fun
we are a courageous nation for fun brilliant here in starer ISM Pakistanis
brilliant here in starer ISM Pakistanis
brilliant here in starer ISM Pakistanis have lost twenty-one thousand civilians
have lost twenty-one thousand civilians
have lost twenty-one thousand civilians and 6,500 of our troops fighting this
and 6,500 of our troops fighting this
and 6,500 of our troops fighting this war but we haven’t given up we will
war but we haven’t given up we will
war but we haven’t given up we will continue fighting until our homeland is
continue fighting until our homeland is
continue fighting until our homeland is peaceful and free of extremism again
I uh I came here gave different
I uh I came here gave different presentations talked to different people
presentations talked to different people
presentations talked to different people and that’s what I really needed to share
and that’s what I really needed to share
and that’s what I really needed to share what is happening in our country in
what is happening in our country in
what is happening in our country in Pakistan Afghanistan Syria and other
Pakistan Afghanistan Syria and other
Pakistan Afghanistan Syria and other countries affected by the war of
countries affected by the war of
countries affected by the war of terrorism the only solution for the 16
terrorism the only solution for the 16
terrorism the only solution for the 16 year old problem is education if they if
year old problem is education if they if
year old problem is education if they if those extremists know what’s right and
those extremists know what’s right and
those extremists know what’s right and what’s wrong I don’t think that they
what’s wrong I don’t think that they
what’s wrong I don’t think that they will join extremist forces and try to
will join extremist forces and try to
will join extremist forces and try to kill thousands of innocent people they
kill thousands of innocent people they
kill thousands of innocent people they are not Muslims and they are definitely
are not Muslims and they are definitely
are not Muslims and they are definitely not representing us some people say that
not representing us some people say that
not representing us some people say that they are Muslims but I don’t believe it
they are Muslims but I don’t believe it
they are Muslims but I don’t believe it I was never taught to hold guns and kill
I was never taught to hold guns and kill
I was never taught to hold guns and kill innocent people kill innocent children
it all started after Sonja dove gone war
it all started after Sonja dove gone war in 1979 when United States and other
in 1979 when United States and other
in 1979 when United States and other European countries and Pakistan
European countries and Pakistan
European countries and Pakistan sponsored abortion when as the
sponsored abortion when as the
sponsored abortion when as the Mujahideen to fight Soviets we provided
Mujahideen to fight Soviets we provided
Mujahideen to fight Soviets we provided them water in weapons they were
them water in weapons they were
them water in weapons they were illiterate they were mercenaries and
illiterate they were mercenaries and
illiterate they were mercenaries and they didn’t know what to do and after
they didn’t know what to do and after
they didn’t know what to do and after they won the war we just abandoned them
they won the war we just abandoned them
they won the war we just abandoned them we didn’t build schools we didn’t build
we didn’t build schools we didn’t build
we didn’t build schools we didn’t build hospitals we didn’t build anything
hospitals we didn’t build anything
hospitals we didn’t build anything necessary for a civilized nation and
necessary for a civilized nation and
necessary for a civilized nation and that’s why they turned against us the
that’s why they turned against us the
that’s why they turned against us the only thing they had against us was
only thing they had against us was
only thing they had against us was before those modern battles which we had
before those modern battles which we had
before those modern battles which we had provided them ourselves
life is short you don’t know what will
life is short you don’t know what will happen the next moment so try to
happen the next moment so try to
happen the next moment so try to accomplish
accomplish
accomplish as much as you can and make sure that
as much as you can and make sure that
as much as you can and make sure that this pool is a peaceful place to live in
this pool is a peaceful place to live in
this pool is a peaceful place to live in sending troops to other part of the
sending troops to other part of the
sending troops to other part of the world and banning people believing in
world and banning people believing in
world and banning people believing in one religion from certain countries to
one religion from certain countries to
one religion from certain countries to come inside the country won’t solve the
come inside the country won’t solve the
come inside the country won’t solve the problem building bases instead of
problem building bases instead of
problem building bases instead of schools sending troops instead of
schools sending troops instead of
schools sending troops instead of teachers won’t solve the problem
teachers won’t solve the problem
teachers won’t solve the problem education void if they know that they
education void if they know that they
education void if they know that they can do something productive in their
can do something productive in their
can do something productive in their lives they won’t join the extremist
lives they won’t join the extremist
lives they won’t join the extremist forces and that is what I think is the
forces and that is what I think is the
forces and that is what I think is the only solution for the 16 year old
only solution for the 16 year old
only solution for the 16 year old problem which has killed thousands of
problem which has killed thousands of
problem which has killed thousands of people we have lost a lot of friends a
people we have lost a lot of friends a
people we have lost a lot of friends a lot of people and we should never let it
lot of people and we should never let it
lot of people and we should never let it happen again let’s pray for a safer
happen again let’s pray for a safer
happen again let’s pray for a safer world with all the races colors genders
world with all the races colors genders
world with all the races colors genders and religions are equally respected and
and religions are equally respected and
and religions are equally respected and are given equal opportunities stay
are given equal opportunities stay
are given equal opportunities stay strong keep smiling and deal with every
strong keep smiling and deal with every
strong keep smiling and deal with every challenge brain even if you don’t expect
challenge brain even if you don’t expect
challenge brain even if you don’t expect it I never expected that I would lose so
it I never expected that I would lose so
it I never expected that I would lose so many friends in one day nobody expects
many friends in one day nobody expects
many friends in one day nobody expects that but when it happened the only
that but when it happened the only
that but when it happened the only solution for me was to stay strong and
solution for me was to stay strong and
solution for me was to stay strong and make sure that other people don’t lose
make sure that other people don’t lose
make sure that other people don’t lose loved ones and friends like I did the
loved ones and friends like I did the
loved ones and friends like I did the only thing we can do is work hard and
only thing we can do is work hard and
only thing we can do is work hard and try to accomplish the things that we
try to accomplish the things that we
try to accomplish the things that we want we have to be united our people and
want we have to be united our people and
want we have to be united our people and our governments have to work together
our governments have to work together
our governments have to work together and respect each other’s culture and
and respect each other’s culture and
and respect each other’s culture and religion thank you very much
religion thank you very much
religion thank you very much you
you
you [Applause]
”
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