Pak teenager bomb hero gets bravery award

Aitzaz Hassan

A Pakistani teenager who sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber, saving the lives of hundreds of students, has been honoured with the country's highest award for bravery.
Aitzaz Hassan, 15, a student in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has become a national hero after tackling the bomber who came to attack his school on Monday, with hundreds of students inside.
Hassan died in hospital after the bomber blew himself up at the school gates. No one else was wounded or killed in the incident.
The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it had advised President Mamnoon Hussain "to approve the conferment of Sitara-e-Shujjat (star of bravery) to Shaheed (martyred) Aitzaz Hassan.
An official in prime minister house told AFP on Saturday Hasan's family is expected to receive the posthumous award on March 23, Pakistan's national day following the president's ceremonial approval.