Pak teenager Malala chosen for bravery award

A Pakistani woman touches a photograph of Pakistan's child activist Malala Yousafzai during a ceremony to mark 'Malala Day' in Lahore on November 10, 2012. Pakistan marked 'Malala Day' Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant schoolmates could not honour her in public. Nearly 100,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Malala to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and on Friday UN special education envoy Gordon Brown handed a separate million-strong petition in support of Malala to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. AFP PHOTO

Pakistani girl Malala Yousufzai, who became the face of her country's struggle against the Taliban, has been awarded for her bravery and advocation of education for girls in adverse conditions in Swat.

The award was given out by World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Chairman Prince Ali Khan, at the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords last night.

Malala is being treated at a British hospital after she was shot in the head by Taliban militants.

The award was received on her behalf by Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK, S Zulfiqar Gardezi.

"It is Malala or her family who should have received the award. In their absence, I will pass it on to her," he said.

Malala was flown to the UK on Oct 15 and admitted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham where she is recovering.

Other recipients of award included a Bishop of London, a distinguished British Muslim Psychiatrist, a distinguished Turkish academic and MP, and eight year old Josh Altman, European Chess Bronze medalist.

Prince Ali Khan, Founder Chairman of the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation said the Foundation was aimed at recognising outstanding work in various walks of life and to promote world peace and prosperity.

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