'The Young Brave Boy'

 

 Aitzaz Hasan

 

A tragic teenager has been hailed as a hero after he was killed chasing a suicide bomber away from his school in Pakistan.

Aitzaz Hasan, 17, died in the attack on the school in the village of Hangu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He was seen running after the suicide bomber moments before a huge explosion.

Hundreds of students and teachers were in the school at the time.

His father said Aitzaz made a sacrifice to save the lives of others.

"My son made his mother cry but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children," he told the English-language Express Tribune newspaper.

Scores of mourners attended the teenager's funeral and a Facebook page has been set up in tribute to his bravery.

 

Local resident Miqdar Khan said many people in the district have hailed Hasan as a hero, adding that the teen was known for openly criticising militants.

"Aitzaz Hasan used to tell all that one day he would capture some suicide bomber and his class fellows used to laugh," he said.

"But this boy proved what he said and I am sad that he left us too early."