Ms. Yousufzai was shot and seriously wounded Oct. 9 by members of the Taliban as she was returning home from school in northwest Pakistan. The 14-year-old became a critic of the Taliban after the militant group took over the northwestern Swat Valley, where she lived. She has also spoken out about the importance of education for girls, something the Taliban has attempted to eradicate in regions it controls.
On Saturday, Christian, Hindu and Muslim leaders from URI Pakistan met in front of the Lahore Press Club to offer prayers for Ms. Yousufzai’s recovery, each according to his or her own faith.
The Rev. James Channan, URI Subregional Coordinator for Pakistan, read from Matthew 9:18-24, a Biblical passage in which Jesus raises the daughter of an official from the dead.
“I believe Malala will also be healed, and thus raised to life,” Rev. Channan said.
Other URI members present at the event included Trustee Zubair Ahmed Farooq of URI’s Global Council, Chardhary Barket, Yuel Bhatti, Munawar Chand, Kanwal Feroze, Pandat Lal Khokhar and Sohail Ahmed Raza.
The event was organized by URI Pakistan in cooperation with the National Council for Interfaith Dialogue and Minhajul Quaran International.
The Oct. 13 event was one of many that took place throughout Pakistan last weekend in support of Ms. Yousufzai. According to the Associated Press, tens of thousands of people rallied in Karachi on Oct. 14 to show solidarity with Ms. Yousufzai and horror at the Taliban’s actions.
As of Oct. 15, Ms. Yousufzai remains on a ventilator following an operation to remove a bullet from her neck.