Aitzaz Hasan

Aitzaz Hasan was born to a Bangash Pashtun family of Hangu. His father is Mujahid Ali, who was in the United Arab Emirates at the time of the attack. It was typical for men in this impoverished region to go abroad, including the Gulf region, to provide for their families. Hasan was known for openly criticizing armed radical groups. == Death ==

On 6 January 2014, Aitzaz was outside the school gate of his Government High School, Ibrahimzai, in Hangu, with two other schoolmates. Aitzaz had not been allowed to join the morning assembly as he had been late in reaching the school that day. One account states that around this time, a 20-to-25-year-old man approached the gate and stated he was there to "take admission". One of the students noticed a detonator on the man's vest, whereupon Aitzaz's schoolmates ran inside, possibly to raise alarm, while Aitzaz confronted the suicide bomber and grappled with him. The terrorist then detonated his vest, killing himself and Aitzaz in the explosion. Aitzaz died at the scene. No other students were harmed. == Aftermath ==

Aitzaz's father said that his son made a sacrifice to save the lives of others: "My son made his mother cry but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children." Aitzaz's story led to an outpouring of emotion on television and on social media, where the hashtag #onemillionaitzazs trended on Twitter. A Facebook page has been set up in tribute to his act. Then Information Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah Farman, called Aitzaz a "real hero and true face of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa". Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif called Aitzaz Hasan "a national hero, who has sacrificed his today for our tomorrow." Malala Yousafzai, another prominent Pakistani teenager and education activist who was the winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, described Aitzaz as "brave and courageous" and said "his bravery must never be forgotten". Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), led by Fazal-ur-Rehman described Aitzaz as a "Mujahid", and a "symbol of resistance against terrorism". On 12 January 2014, the government of Pakistan announced the establishment of the Aitzaz Hasan Fund, a trust fund for Aitzaz's family. On 14 January, the provincial governmental representatives announced a Rs 5 million package for the family of the teen and renamed his school as the Aitzaz Hasan Shaheed High School. A hostel constructed at College of EME was named after him. == Popular culture ==

• Salute – a 2016 Pakistani biographical film directed, written and produced by Shahzad Rafique, and starring Ali Mohtesham as Aitzaz Hasan. == Awards and honors ==

Many people demanded that the Nishan-e-Haider, or a similar award, be awarded to Aitzaz Hasan posthumously. The office of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif then recommended President Mamnoon Husain to confer Aitzaz Hasan with the high civil award Sitara-e-Shujaat (Star of Bravery). Aitzaz was named as Herald's Person of the Year 2014. Herald's annual Person of the Year project sets out to recognize those individuals in Pakistan who had a profound influence on the news and who embodied, for good or ill, what was important about the year. Hasan, whose sacrifice attained further poignancy after the 16 December attack on Peshawar's Army Public School, emerged as the winner in a three-way voting process that included online voting, postal ballots, and input from a panel of 10 eminent Pakistanis. In Herald's upcoming annual issue, Yousafzai – Herald's Person of the Year for 2014 – pays tribute to Hasan, writing: "Our country is blessed with brave people. The story of Aitzaz Hasan reflects their reliance, courage, and bravery." == Notes ==