APS massacre survivor Ahmad Nawaz elected president of Oxford Union

Ahmad Nawaz, a survivor of the Army Public School massacre of 2014 as been elected president of the Oxford University’s debating society Oxford Union.

“Today is the most monumental and history-making moment of my life! I am so extremely proud to announce that I have been elected president of the Oxford Union, one of the world’s biggest and historical platforms!” tweeted Nawaz on Sunday.

Nawaz said that he was “eternally grateful” to everyone who supported him in getting elected. He was also “extremely grateful” to his parents who have been supportive of everything.

“[I am grateful to] my friends who have been with me throughout this journey. And finally, my team, who have worked so exceptionally hard to make this truly historical moment happen!” said Nawaz as he thanked everyone.

On December 16, 2014, 147 people, including 132 schoolchildren, were massacred in the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan’s history when terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar Cantonment and opened indiscriminate fire.

Nawaz, one of the survivors of the attack, had lost his brother Haris and many friends on that fateful day. 

However, the 20-year-old never let the attack stop him from pursuing his studies. 

In 2020, he had secured a place to study at the University of Oxford — the alma mater of many notable Pakistanis, including Malala Yousufzai, Prime Minister Imran Khan, late Benazir Bhutto, and many others.

Apart from studying at Oxford, Nawaz is a human rights campaigner.