MINGORA, Nov 10: UN’s Special Envoy for Global Education and former British prime minister Gordon Brown telephoned on Saturday Malala Yousufzai’s schoolmates who were injured in an attack last month as the Malala Day passed without much fanfare in Mingora, her hometown.

Mr Brown called Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz to inquire after their health.

He expressed sorrow over the Oct 9 incident when the militants attacked them.

Both the girls replied that they wished to become doctors and serve humanity when Mr Brown asked them about their future plans.

He admired their courage and determination, expressing good wishes for them.

Talking to Dawn, Shazia said she was happy with the response of the international community to the shooting.

She said God and prayers of parents, teachers, well-wishers and people had lifted their spirits.

“I want to become a doctor in the armed forces of Pakistan to serve the nation.”

Shazia’s father Ramazan said that he wanted her child to complete her education.

He appealed to the government to give admission to Wasim, brother of Shazia, to a medical college.

Kainat Riaz said she was saved by doctors so she too wanted to become a doctor.

About contact with Malala, she said, she wished to talk her and also contacted her father Ziauddin.

But she was not able to talk to her because of weak health.

She wished to see Malala once again in the school.

Meanwhile, the Malala Day passed unnoticed in her hometown despite the call given by the UN to observe a ‘day of action’ across the globe to express solidarity with the rights’ activist.

The day passed silently because of threat of reprisals of militants loyal to hardliner cleric Maulana Fazlullah. Except offering special prayers at assemblies in

the Khushal Public School and Sarsush Educational Academy not a single function was held at the government and private edu-cational institutions and offices in connection with the UN call because of security risk.

At the Khushal Public School tribute was paid to Malala and her colleagues.

The children offered special prayers for early recovery of Malala and Shazia.