Field Marshal Asim Munir, air chief awarded Hilal-i-Jurat; Bilawal, ministers receive Nishan-e-Imtiaz

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday presented Pakistan’s highest civil and military awards to leading political figures, senior military officers, and diplomats in a ceremony at the President House.

Several senior political leaders received Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s top civilian awards. Recipients included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The country’s military leadership was also conferred awards. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu received the Hilal-e-Jurat, while Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf were awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military).

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Members of the diplomatic corps nominated by the Prime Minister were awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for their contributions to foreign relations. These included Tariq Fatemi, Senators Sherry Rehman and Faisal Sabzwari, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.

Several Pakistan Air Force officers received gallantry awards. Wing Commanders Bilal Raza and Hammad Ibne Masood, as well as Squadron Leaders Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Muhammad Osama Ashfaq, Muhammad Hassan Anis, and Talal Hassan, were awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat. Squadron Leaders Fida Muhammad Khan and Muhammad Ashab, along with Lance Havaldar Aamir Sheraz and Lance Naik Ikramullah, received the Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Jurat respectively, some posthumously.

Other notable military awardees included Sepoy Adeel Akbar (posthumous Tamgha-e-Jurat), Captain Ali Hassan (Tamgha-e-Jurat), Sepoy Nisar Ali Shaheed (posthumous Sitara-e-Basalat), and senior officers Lt Gens Noman Zakaria, Syed Aamir Raza, Shahid Imtiaz, and retired Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed, who received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military).