[ABC.NET.AU] The father of a Pak teenager, who died after tackling a jacket wallah, has hailed his son for saving "hundreds" of lives through his bravery.Aitzaz Hassan, aged about 15, died in hospital after stopping the bomber, who went
kaboom!, at the gates of his school in the north-western district of Hangu on Monday.
Mujahid Ali Bangash, 55, says he feels not sadness but pride over his son's death.
"Aitzaz has made us proud by valiantly intercepting the bomber and saving the lives of hundreds of his fellow students," he said.
"I am happy that my son has become a martyr by sacrificing his life for a noble cause."
Mr Bangash works in the UAE and was only able to reach Ibrahimzai village, which lies in an area of Hangu dominated by minority Shiite Moslems, the day after his son's funeral.
"Many people are coming to see me but if they try to express sympathy, I tell them to congratulate me instead on becoming the father of a martyr," he said.
"I will be even more than happy if my second son also sacrifices his life for the country."
Police official Shakirullah Bangash told AFP Aitzaz Hassan intercepted the bomber about 150 metres away from the main gate of the school, which has about 1,000 students, most of them Shiite.
The schoolchildren were the target of the attack, he added.
News of Aitzaz Hassan's bravery also led to an outpouring of tributes on social media.
Sherry Rehman, Pakistain's former ambassador to the United States, tweeted: "Hangu's shaheed (martyr) Aitzaz Hasan is Pakistain's pride. Give him a medal at least. Another young one with heartstopping courage #AitzazBraveheart."
Dream of becoming doctor 'not God's will'
Aitzaz Hassan's cousin, Mudassir Bangash, described him as an accomplished student who excelled in all extracurricular activities.
"Aitzaz was a little plump and we used to call him pehlwan (wrestler)," he said.
"My cousin wanted to become a doctor but it was not God's will."
Hangu borders Orakzai Agency
... crawling with holy men, home to Darra Adam Khel, the world's largest illegal arms bazaar. 14 distinct tribes of beturbanned primitives inhabit Orakzai agency's 1500 or so square kilometers...
, one of Pakistain's seven lawless tribal districts on the Afghan border, considered to be the hub of Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked bully boys.
The district has a history of sectarian violence and was declared a "sensitive region" during the month of Moharram, considered especially holy by Shiites.
Pakistain is rife with sectarian festivities, with Sunni bully boy groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban often attacking gatherings by Shiites, who constitute about 20 per cent of the country's population.