Malala's father: 'My daughter will rise again'

Left to right: Malala's mum Toorpekai Yousufzai, Malala, Khushal Khan (brother), Ziauddin Yousufzai (father) and Apal Khan (brother). Credit: UHB

Malala Yousufzai's father Ziauddin has told reporters that when his "daughter fell, Pakistan stood up."

His comments come after he travelled to the UK from Pakistan with his wife and Malala's two brothers to visit the 15-year-old at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham.

Social Affairs Editor Penny Marshall reports:

Malala was shot and injured by a Taliban gunman earlier this month. The Taliban have vowed to kill her after she supported education for women and girls.

She was later flown from Pakistan to the UK for life-saving treatment.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Yousufzai said: "When she fell, the person who attacked her wanted to kill her...She fell temporarily, she will rise again.

"When she fell, Pakistan stood and the world rose. This is a turning point...She is not just my daughter, she is everybody's daughter."

Malala's father also revealed that the family had thought about preparing for Malala's funeral.

He said: "A time came...when, God forbid, I told my brother that you should make preparations for her funeral...So she was shifted here [Birmingham]. To be very short, I can say that she got the right treatment, at the right place, at the right time."

Malala's father also hailed the British doctor who has led his daughter's recovery.

Describing Dr David Rosser, he said: "He is the most lovely face for me and for my countrymen, and for all the world who love Malala and who are worried about her health.

"We sat at the television all day and night when he [Dr Rosser] would come on the screen to tell something about my daughter, so as long as we were in Pakistan, he was a source of satisfaction for us."

Dr Rosser told reporters he doesn't believe Malala Yousufzai has suffered "significant brain damage" and she is "likely to make a full recovery".

He explained the 15-year-old will need skull reconstruction once she is strong enough and she shouldn't need to be in hospital for more than a few weeks, or a couple of months at most.

Asked Malala's long term prognosis, he replied "excellent".