The leader of Pakistan’s largest religious political party has cast doubt on the Taliban shooting of schoolgirl activist Malala Yousufzai, saying he did not believe she was hit in the head.

. . . The cold-blooded attempt to murder the youngster shocked the world, but many in Pakistan — where conspiracy theories on all subjects abound — believe the incident was part of a plot to defame the Taliban and Islam.

Social media in Pakistan is full of such comments and pictures of Malala, questioning the credibility of the attack.