An aide to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says Sharif is unlikely to attend the award ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize shared by Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi.
Malala, a teenage campaigner for the education rights of children, has called upon Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the December 10 ceremony in Oslo.
But Sartaj Aziz, a foreign affairs adviser to Sharif, told RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal on October 12 that Sharif is scheduled to travel to China for an official visit on the day of the ceremony.
India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin refused to comment to RFE/RL about whether Modi would travel to Oslo for the ceremony.
Malala and Satyarthi will both give speeches at the ceremony about their struggles in Pakistan and India against the suppression of children and for the right of all children to receive an education.