ISLAMABAD – On Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred 488 military awards to honour bravery and service during the “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) operation. The investiture ceremony, held at Aiwan-i-Sadr, also recognised numerous civilian leaders for their contributions during Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.
During the ceremony, the President awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz to his son, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, for his successful diplomatic efforts in Western capitals following Indian aggression. Other recipients of the prestigious award included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah.
The Hilal-i-Jurat was awarded to Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sindhu. The Hilal-i-Imtiaz was conferred on prominent political, diplomatic, and administrative figures, including Tariq Fatemi, Musadik Malik, Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Faisal Sabzwari, Bushra Anjum, ambassadors Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Intelligence Bureau Chief Fuad Asadullah Khan, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, and PM’s Adviser Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah.
Senior civil servants such as PTA Chairman (retired Major General) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, AJ&K Chief Secretary Khushal Khan, IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham Khan, Information Secretary Ambreen Jan, Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza, and Indus Water Commissioner Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
Media personalities and Prime Minister’s staff were also among the honourees, with Tamgha-i-Imtiaz awarded to Ahmed Hassan Arabi, Dr. Qamar Cheema, Mubashir Hassan, Waseem Badami, Hamid Mir, Saleem Safi, Talat Hussain, Javed Chaudhry, Mujeebur Rehman Shami, and others. Journalist Ansar Abbasi declined the award.
In the military category, posthumous Tamgha-i-Basalat honours were given to Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, Havaldar Muhammad Naveed, Naik Waqar Khalid, and Lance Naik Dilawar Khan. Other gallantry awards, including Tamgha-i-Jurat, Imtiazi Asnad, and Sitara-i-Basalat, were presented to soldiers, while Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) was awarded to Lieutenant Commander Khurram Riaz of the Navy. The Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) went to several senior officers, including ISI Director General Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik and ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
The Press Information Department announced that over 260 additional civilian awards across fields such as science, education, arts, journalism, and sports will be presented on Pakistan Day, March 23, 2026. The list includes AI and robotics experts, singers Hadiqa Kiyani and Humera Arshad, actors Irfan Ali Khoosat and Samina Peerzada, poets and writers Zahra Nigah, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, karate champion Shahzaib Rind, and cricketers Sana Mir and Shahid Afridi.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.