Pakistan marked its 78th Independence Day with a great deal of enthusiasm at Aiwan-e-Sadr plus the celebration was in honor of the achievements of those who have served as guiding lights for the nation. The event from across the country drew diplomats, top political and military leaders, and other prominent figures.
President Asif Ali Zardari along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were joined by a number of senior officials. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Senate Chairman, and National Assembly Speaker were in attendance too.
Nishan-e-Imtiaz were presented at the ceremony to many distinguished personalities that included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, along with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Rana Sanaullah.
Ishaq Dar was given praise for his substantial achievements in diplomacy whereby Bilawal Bhutto was also praised for his work in this same arena.
Field Marshal Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar were honored with the Hilal-e-Jurat. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Naval Chief.
Members of the Prime Minister’s diplomatic team also received awards. Senator Sherry Rehman, Faisal Subzwari, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Bushra Anjum, Umar Farooq, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Musadik Malik, and Tariq Fatemi were honoured with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
Brave Pakistan Air Force pilots — Wing Commander Bilal Raza, Wing Commander Hammad Ibn Masood, Squadron Leader Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Usama Ashfaq, Muhammad Hassan Anees, Talal Hassan, Fida Muhammad Khan, and Muhammad Ashhad — received the Sitara-e-Jurat.
The nation also paid tribute to its martyrs. Lance Havaldar Amir Shiraz, Lance Naik Ikramullah, and Sepoy Adeel Akbar were awarded the Tamgha-e-Jurat. Sepoy Nisar Ahmed Shaheed was honoured with the Sitara-e-Basalat, along with Lieutenant Generals Muhammad Asim Malik, Nauman Zakria, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Syed Amir Raza, Shahid Imtiaz, and Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
Other recipients of the Sitara-e-Basalat included Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, Rear Admiral Abdul Muneeb, Rear Admiral Faisal Amin, Major General Wajid Aziz, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ihsan ul Haque, Major General Kashif Abdullah, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, Rear Admiral Shehzad Hameed, Major General Muhammad Jawad Tariq, and Major General Tajdeed Mumtaz.
Air Commodores Attaullah Zaib, Zia Aftab, Muhammad Nauman Ali Khan, Ali Javed Hashmi, and Sajjad Haider, along with Captain Asif Ameen and Captain Muhammad Haider Ali, were also presented with awards for their services.
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