Malala visits Swat Valley amid high security

SWAT VALLEY: Nobel laureate and girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai visited her hometown Swat Valley on Saturday for the first time since she was shot while returning from school in 2012.

State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and other officials accompanied Malala during the visit. A helicopter was brought in Islamabad to take Malala to Swat.

Reports say that the stringent security measures were taken and roads leading to Malala’s home in Mingora were blocked earlier in a day as part of a security plan.

The 20-year-old had asked the authorities to allow her the visit to Shangla village in Swat where a school currently operates under the Malala Fund.

Mingora’s security was tightened up after following the possibility of Malala arriving there. Malala wanted to travel to Swat to see her former schools friends and relatives.