Sir: Winning the Nobel Peace Prize by Malala has indeed brought glad tidings to our nation, mired in multiple crises. Malala at the age of seventeen have become the youngest recipient of this prestigious prize. She has been campaigning for girls’ education since childhood and has become an icon for girls’ rights to education. The Nobel Prize award to Malala is a befitting rebuke to the dark forces, such as the Boko Haram and Taliban. It is extremely unfortunate that certain reactionary segments in Pakistan, other than the Taliban, are savagely criticising this brave daughter of Pakistan. Years ago, we did the same to another Nobel Laureate, Dr Abdus Salam, and refused to recognize his achievements because of his religious beliefs. Malala’s appeal to the premiers of Pakistan and India to attend her and her co-winner Kailash Satyarti’s prize receiving ceremony in Stockholm makes eminent sense as both the countries are in the crosshairs for attacking each other. AKBAR JAN MARWAT Islamabad