Pakistan welcomes Malala home for first time in five years

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said yesterday she was excited to be back in Pakistan for the first time since she was shot in 2012 by Taleban militants angry at her championing of education for girls.

Ms Yousafzai, who landed in her home country just before dawn flanked by heavy security, said in a brief speech at a ceremony at prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s office that she will continue to campaign for the education of girls and asked Pakistanis to be united on issues like healthcare and education.

She said she remembered having to leave Pakistan for treatment after she was attacked. Covering her tearfilled eyes with her hands, Ms Yousafzai, now 20, said it was hard to wait for more than five years to return home.

“It is now actually happening and I am here,” she said. 0 Malala Yousafzai: First visit to Pakistan since she was shot

It’s unclear how long Ms Yousafzai will stay as neither she nor her family have announced any travel plans. Pakistani officials said their understanding is that her visit will last until Monday.

Speaking after meeting the prime minister, Ms Yousafzai said Pakistan was always in her thoughts – even when in New York or London.

“I was always dreaming for the past five years, that I can come to my country, whenever I was travelling abroad,” she said, adding that her dreams were of simple things, “like driving in Karachi, Islamabad”. “Finally, I am here,” she said. Since the attack, Ms Yousafzai has has lengthy periods of medical treatment to recover from her wounds. She also went to school in Britain.

Mr Abbasi praised Ms Yousafzai for her sacrifices and role in the promotion of girls’ education. He said he was happy to welcome her home, where he said “terrorism has been eliminated” – a line often repeated by Islamabad despite persisting militant attacks across the country.

Ms Yousafzai has also led the “Malala Fund,” which she said has invested £4 million in schools.

Earlier, tight security greeted the university student on her arrival – she is not expected to travel to her hometown of Mingora in the Swat Valley, where the shooting occurred. The area still sees occasional militant attacks, though the Pakistani military has largely restored peace since retaking the area.