News Desk |
Ahmed Nawaz, the fortunate survivor of the APS attack in 2014, has become the first Pakistani to receive the Princess Diana Award for his anti-radicalization campaign.
He campaigned throughout the schools in the UK in an effort to save students falling prey to extremism and radicalization by sharing his experience. Ahmed Nawaz is among the 45,000 ordinary youngsters bestowed with the Princess Diana award.
The prestigious accolade recognizes the youth playing their part in serving the society. The Princess Diana award, the legacy of the Princess of Wales, Diana, was founded on her belief that the youth has profound potential and power to lead the world.
I realised there was a problem with radicalization in the UK. Children were going towards terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq.
Ahmed Nawaz, now 18, was 14 when the Taliban attacked his school in Peshawar in 2014. He managed to save himself by pretending to be lying dead and got to see the horror happen right before his eyes witnessing his teacher get set on fire by terrorist militants. He suffered multiple injuries on his arm; and was given special treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Ahmed Nawaz expressed his gratitude on this special occasion and posted his video message on his Twitter account. He stated, “I will continue to do positive work for the society and young people.”
In a video posted on his Twitter account, he recalled the day and said it was “the most horrible day of my life and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that.”
Read more: APS survivor becomes first Pakistani to receive ‘Points of Light Award’ in UK
He continued, “I realised there was a problem with radicalization in the UK. Children were going towards terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. I thought if I could help stop these children that would be the best revenge against the terrorists.”
Ahmad survived the attack but lost his brother in the deadly massacre. He excelled in GCE [General Certificate of Secondary Education] examinations in the UK, securing six A*s and two As in his eight international GCSE exams.