On 16th December 2014, 6 gunmen changed the lives of hundreds of families as they carried out an act of terrorism on Army Public School, Peshawar. That day, 149 children and teachers lost their lives, while several were injured. Amongst the brave survivors was Ahmad Nawaz.
Ahmad lost his brother Haris in the same attack but did not let this tragedy come in his way of achieving success. In 2019, he was awarded the Princess Diana Award at the Parliament House in London. Ahmed is the first Pakistani to receive the Diana Award for anti-radicalisation work. He was honoured for his services towards the education of youngsters.
Now the 21-year-old student has been voted president of Oxford Union. Nawaz eventually left Pakistan when he was 14 and was brought to the UK for his treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. He then raised his voice in the UK and globally against youth radicalisation and to promote the right to an education for all children.
Ahmad has led a nationwide campaign launched by the UK Government called Action Counters Terrorism (ACT). He hopes his efforts will make the union more inclusive and attractive to marginalised groups and those from disadvantaged and disabled backgrounds.
He told The Times he spent much of last night crying with joy and the first person he rang with the news was his mother. “It’s been the most emotional ride I’ve had in a long, long time,” he said.” Nawaz was congratulated for his massive achievement by many individuals including Pakistan’s President Mr. Arif Alvi.
He tweeted:
Our biggest hope are youth of Pakistan. I congratulate Ahmad Nawaz, an APS survivor who also lost his brother Harris in the heinous Peshawar massacre, on being elected as President of Oxford Union. We must register that despite all setbacks Pakistan will keep on shining & rising.
Our biggest hope are youth of Pakistan. I congratulate Ahmad Nawaz, an APS survivor who also lost his brother Harris in the heinous Peshawar massacre, on being elected as President of Oxford Union. We must register that despite all setbacks Pakistan will keep on shining & rising. pic.twitter.com/WSwuYTdrjT
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) June 26, 2022
Ahmad along with the other APS survivors is a symbol of hope and continues to create a way forward for Pakistani children who look up to him and wish to follow in his footsteps.
On his commemoration as the President, Nawaz tweeted:
Immensely proud to have finally assumed my duties as the President of @OxfordUnion
In my time as President, I look forward to having world leaders debate the most pressing issues, empowering young people through this platform & upholding freedom of speech! A long way to go…