UAE-based father of teen who tackled suicide bomber speaks of sadness and pride

ABU DHABI // The father of a Pakistani schoolboy who died foiling a suicide attack has spoken of his devastation at missing his son’s funeral.

Mujahid Ali, who has lived in the UAE for 20 years, said his son died a martyr and he was proud of him.

Aitzaz Hasan, 15, was killed last Monday when he tackled the bomber and stopped him entering the school, where 2,000 children were at morning assembly.

His father left his home in Dubai when he heard the news and went straight to the village of Ibrahimzai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the bombing took place.

“I feel traumatised and deeply saddened to miss the funeral prayers of my martyred son. I was in Dubai and could not arrive in time,” said Mr Ali, 60, a driver for a cement factory in Al Quoz.

“When I reached the place on Tuesday, they had already performed the funeral prayers.”

Mr Ali said when he first saw news reports about the bomb blast in his village, he did not know his son was involved.

“I was doing the nightshift at the factory, left at 10am and reached my accommodation. When I switched on the TV for Khyber news I first learnt about the blast in which a boy was seriously injured.

“I was worried as my son studied in the same school,” said Mr Ali, who also has two daughters and an eldest son, Mujtaba Hasan, 25.

“Then I called other relatives who confirmed that my son was martyred in the incident.

“Initially I was highly grieved and shocked to learn about the death of my son but as news spread I was happy that he saved the lives of about 2,000 schoolchildren who were there at that time.

“I’m proud of my son’s intrepid and courageous move to sacrifice his own life for other schoolmates. I am happy that he played a saviour.”

Aitzaz is believed to have arrived late for school on Monday morning and been excluded from morning assembly as punishment.

He was standing outside the gate with two classmates when a man approached and claimed he was there to take a roll call.

One of the pupils spotted that the man was carrying a detonator and ran inside with his friend. But Aitzaz tackled the bomber, who detonated his explosive vest, killing both of them.

The provincial police chief, Nasir Khan Durrani, has nominated Aitzaz for Pakistan’s top civilian award. Mr Ali said no government official or politician had contacted them yet.

He has taken 15 days’ leave from the job in Dubai to remain with his grieving family.

If Aitzaz is officially declared a martyr, it would bring some financial relief to his family. Mr Ali also wished that authorities could rename the school after his son, which he said would be a huge honour.

Mr Ali is not sure when he will be able to return to his job.

“I am the breadwinner for my family and don’t have any business or other source of income. Let’s see what God decides for us.”

anwar@thenational.ae