Pakistan Day celebrations: Men of letters, heroes decorated

Award recipients include PM’s aide Irfan Siddiqui, cricketer Misbahul Haq and student Aitzaz Hassan.

ISLAMABAD:

President Mamnoon Hussain conferred civil and military awards upon dozens of men and women for showing gallantry and achieving excellence in a variety of fields at an investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday.

The ceremony – the highlight of Pakistan Day celebrations -- was attended by the prime minister, the Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, federal ministers, chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, ambassadors and other notables.

According to a statement issued by the Press Information Department, awards were given “in recognition of the meritorious services rendered by men and women in their respective fields, or for exemplary acts of gallantry.” They were conferred upon notable individuals for “acts of bravery, heroism and courage, and rendering services with selfless devotion for human rights and public service.”

Among those who received civil awards was the prime minister’s adviser and close aide Irfan Siddiqui. He was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz in the field of journalism.

Punjab University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Mujahid received the same award in materials engineering. Saud Sahir, too, received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for journalism and Pakistan cricket team captain Misbahul Haq was conferred the same award for sports.

Aitzaz Hassan Bangash – the student who lost his life while foiling a suicide attack on his school – was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Shujaat for gallantry, along with Samia Noreen and Abdul Mansoor Kakar.

Malala Yousafzai, who has been announced as a recipient of the Sitara-i-Shujaat, will receive her award at one of Pakistan’s foreign missions.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Ayub Khawar received the President’s Pride of Performance award for his work as a writer, producer and director.

The president also granted military awards to the officers and personnel of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. These included 14 Sitara-e-Basalat awards, 109 Tamgha-i-Basalat awards, 43 Imtiazi Asnad awards, 91 COAS Commendation Cards, 44 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) awards, 54 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) awards and 84 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) awards.

In his message earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan Day is an occasion “to pass on the thought behind the creation of the state and to prepare the future architects for achieving and upholding those noble ideals.”

He arrived at the Aiwan-e-Sadr alongside the president in a traditional horse carriage as the chief guest for the investiture ceremony. The premier and president hoisted the national flag to mark the beginning of the auspicious event.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2014.