Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred civil and military awards on various personalities for their outstanding services and exceptional performance during Marka-e-Haq. He decorated the awards to recipients at a prestigious investiture ceremony held in Islamabad today.
According to Radio Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were decorated with Nishan-i-Imtiaz.
The President also conferred military awards to the officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force for conspicuous courage and supreme sacrifice rendered during Operation “Bunyan-um-Marsoos.” Field Marshal Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat in recognition of his leadership during the challenging period of Marka-e-Haq.
Nishan-i-Imtiaz was conferred upon Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat for demonstrating unwavering courage while leading the aerial war, and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf was decorated with Nishan-i-Imtiaz.
ISI Chief Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik and Director General Inter Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry were given Sitara-e-Basalt. Wing Commanders Bilal Raza and Hammad Ibne Masood, along with several Squadron Leaders, received Sitara-i-Jurat for their contributions to the Pakistan Air Force.
Members of the Prime Minister’s diplomatic mission were awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz for effectively highlighting Pakistan’s position abroad. Recipients included Minister for Climate Change Musadik Masood Malik and other notable figures such as Senator Sherry Rehman and Hina Rabbani Khar.
Furthermore, Hilal-e-Imtiaz was given to Minister for Economic Affairs Division Ahad Khan Cheema and several other advisors and officials. Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Ambreen Jan and Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amna Baloch received Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
Leading media personalities were conferred with Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, including Hamid Mir and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami. In total, the ceremony awarded four Tamgha-i-Jurrat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalt, 43 Tamgha-i-Basalat, seven Tamgha-i-Shujat, eight Sitara-i-Imtiaz, and 43 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.