Tahira Qazi
Tahira Qazi (1 July 1951 – 16 December 2014) was a Pakistani educationist and principal of Army Public School Peshawar who was killed in the Peshawar school attack on 16 December 2014.[1][2][3]
Tahira Qazi | |
|---|---|
طاھره قاضی | |
.JPG) | |
| Born | 1 July 1951 Mardan, Pakistan |
| Died | 16 December 2014 (aged 63) |
| Cause of death | Gun shot to the head |
| Resting place | Landi Yarghajo 33° 58′ 46″ N, 71° 32′ 41″ E |
| Education | University of Peshawar |
| Occupation | Educationist |
| Years active | 1994-2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Qazi Zafarullah |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Shujaat (2015) |
Early life and careerEdit
Tahira Qazi was born on 1 July 1951 in Mardan, Pakistan where she attended early schooling. She completed her master's degree in English from University of Peshawar and started her teaching career in the 1970s. Qazi married Pakistan Army colonel (now retired) Qazi Zafrullah in the 1980s. She was principal of Army Public School, Peshawar since 2006 and was set to retire in May 2015. According to her students, she taught English.[4][5]
DeathEdit
On 16 December 2014, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan affiliated terrorists attacked Army Public School Peshawar. During the attack, Qazi tried to protect the students and jumped forward in front of the militants and said, "I am their mother. Talk to me." She was then set on fire, allegedly in front of her students, for being the spouse of a retired army colonel.[6][7]
Qazi was laid to rest in Landi Arbab.[8][7][9] She was survived by her husband, a daughter, and two sons.[6]
Awards and honorsEdit
Qazi was posthumously awarded by Sitara-e-Shujaat on Pakistan Day 2015 by President Mamnoon Hussain.[10][11] A conference room of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was renamed after her, as the "Tahira Qazi Conference Room".[12]
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "In praise of … Tahira Qazi | Hugh Muir | Comment is free". The Guardian. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ "'I Shall Rise and Shine' ‹ Newsweek Pakistan". Newsweekpakistan.com. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ Marszal, Andrew. "Inside the Pakistan school: harrowing images reveal full terror of Taliban attack". Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ Ahmed, Riaz. "Tahira Qazi: Life lived on principles - The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ Mansoor, Halima. "Tahira Qazi: To mother, with love - The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Tahira Kazi: Peshawar school principal who was burnt alive by Taliban for marrying a Pak army officer : Neighbours, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Taliban School Invasion: Principal burnt alive before pupils because she married a soldier" (in Deutsch). Pulse.ng. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ Hughes, Chris (2014-12-17). "Pakistan school attack: Brave teacher torched by Taliban terrorists after ''over my dead body'' vow - Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ "Pakistan's valiant, unsung heroes | ARY NEWS". Arynews.tv. 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ "The complete list of recipients of awards on Pakistan Day - The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ "School carnage victims to get bravery award - Pakistan". Dawn.Com. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ↑ "Army Public School attack: Tahira Qazi (APS principal) — Age 64". DAWN.COM. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.