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Pakistani student refuses US prize in protest

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani student Samad Khurram refused to accept an award of academic excellence from United States Ambassador Anne Patterson on Wednesday, in protest against the US bombing in Mohmand Agency last week and its support of President Pervez Musharraf, who he said was an unconstitutional president and had destroyed Pakistan's judicial institution.

Patterson, who was due to present the award during a ceremony at the National Art Gallery, said she regretted the attacks, which were “a terrible misunderstanding”.

Khurram returned peacefully and did not talk to reporters. The academic excellence award was being given to him for his admission to Harvard, a world distinction in thinking skills, a regional distinction in chemistry and 7 A grades in A level.

In her speech during the ceremony at the National Art Gallery, Patterson underscored the need for strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the US.

“There is a myth that American universities are hesitant to accept students from Pakistan,” she said while addressing graduates who have received private scholarships to study abroad. “All together, 5,400 students from Pakistan studied at US colleges and universities last year.” agencies

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