APS massacre survivor honoured with 'British Empire Medal' by King Charles

Ahmad Nawaz, a survivor of the 2014 Army Public School massacre, has been awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal by King Charles of Great Britain.

Nawaz shared the good news with his fans on the microblogging site X.

"I am immensely honoured to share the incredible news that HM King Charles III has awarded me the prestigious Hon. British Empire Medal (BEM). The BEM is one of the highest honours awarded in the UK," he wrote in a post.

"This accolade is a testament to my unfettered determination & a recognition of my years of services empowering young people worldwide," the young scholar added.

I am immensely honoured to share the incredible news that HM King Charles III (@RoyalFamily) has awarded me the prestigious Hon. British Empire Medal (BEM)🏅

The BEM is one of the highest honours awarded in the UK

This accolade is a testament to my unfettered determination & a… pic.twitter.com/04axMFTUjv

— Ahmad Nawaz (@Ahmadnawazaps) September 17, 2024

"My resolve to continue on this journey is strengthened and I shall continue to inspire and empower many more young people in years to come."

Following the development, Ahmad's father, Mohammad Nawaz, expressed his pride and wisdom while talking to Geo News.

"If you want to invest, invest in your children. I invested in children who are a source of honour for the nation, like Ahmad," he told the medial channel.

"Your children will bring change in society tomorrow," Nawaz added.

In 2014, Ahmad Nawaz was just 14 years old when he survived the brutal attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.

He suffered multiple injuries to his arm and was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Despite losing his brother Haris and many friends in the tragedy, Nawaz persevered and continued his education. 

In 2020, he secured a place at the University of Oxford, joining notable alumni such as Imran Khan, Malala Yousufzai, and late Benazir Bhutto.

This July, Ahmad achieved a remarkable milestone by graduating from the prestigious university. 

A human rights campaigner had also met Prince William at Kingston Palace, where he received the 'Global Legacy Award 2019'.