ISLAMABAD: Celebrating the 78th Independence Day — observed Thursday with a focus on Marka-e-Haq, the recent military confrontation with India — the President House conducted a special ceremony to recognize the nation’s leading civil and military figures with esteemed national honors.
Among those honored was Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, who received the Hilal-e-Jurat from President Asif Ali Zardari for guiding the army through exceptionally challenging times.
The awards ceremony occurred amidst the recent Pakistan-India tension, where Washington negotiated a ceasefire between the two nuclear-capable nations following New Delhi’s strikes within Pakistan—justified as targeting terrorists—it claimed were accountable for the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos following India’s attacks, downing six Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafales, in reaction to the unprovoked aggression from India.
Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, received the Hilal-e-Jurat in today’s ceremony.
In response to the conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations, Pakistan initiated a diplomatic campaign and dispatched a delegation headed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the United States, the UK, and various European nations to convey Pakistan’s position to the international community.
The parliamentary delegation comprises Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Dr. Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt, and Syed Faisal Subzwari.
The delegation engaged in several important discussions with senior officials during their visit and significantly contributed to promoting and reinforcing Pakistan’s narrative while countering Indian propaganda — for which Bilawal received Nishan-e-Imtiaz today.
Additionally, the president bestowed military honors upon the officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force for their remarkable bravery and ultimate sacrifice displayed during Operation “Bunyan-Um-Marsoos.”
Eight Sitara-e-Jurat, five Tamgha-e-Jurat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-e-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and one Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) have been awarded.
Ansar Abbasi, Senior journalist and Editor Investigations at The News, has refused to accept the Marka-e-Haq Award. In a correspondence to the Cabinet Secretary, Abbasi expressed his choice, indicating that the whole country was worthy of the recognition.
PAF Shaheens
In recognition of the Pakistan Air Force’s exceptional operational excellence and valour during the recent standoff with India, national awards were bestowed upon the following PAF officers.
Sitara-e-Jurat
- Wing Commander Bilal Raza General Duty Pilot (GDP)
- Wing Commander Hammad Ibne Masood, GDP
- Squadron Leader M Yousaf Khan, GDP
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Osama Ishfaq, GDP
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Hassan Anees, GDP
- Squadron Leader Talal Hassan, GDP
- Squadron Leader Fida Muhammad Khan, GDP
- Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Ashhad Amir, GDP
Sitara-e-Basalat
- Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ehsan Ulhaq, GDP
- Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, GDP
- Air Commodore Attaullah Zeb, GDP
- Air Commodore Zia Aftab, GDP
- Air Commodore Muhammad Noman Ali Khan, GDP
- Air Commodore Ali Javed Hashmi, Engineer (Engg)
- Air Commodore Sajjad Haider, AD
Tamgha-e-Basalat
- Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, (shaheed) Engg
- Air Commodore Adeel Shahab Qureshi, GDP
- Air Commodore Farhan Zia, GDP
- Air Commodore Jehanzeb Burki, Engg
- Air Commodore Azhar Hasan, Engg
- Air Commodore Rana Ilyas Hassan, Air Defence (AD)
- Air Commodore Syed Muhammad Kamran Abid, AD
- Group Captain Muhammad Salman, AD
- Wing Commander Wajeeh Ullah Mian, GDP
- Wing Commander Muhammad Shafaat Saeed, GDP
- Wing Commander Malik Rizwan-Ul-Haq Iftikhar, GDP
- Wing Commander Haider Ijaz, GDP
- Wing Commander Junaid Azam, GDP
- Wing Commander Awais Nazir, GDP
- Squadron Leader Jibran Rashid, GDP
- Squadron Leader Kashif Bashir, GDP
- Squadron Leader Hassaan Khan, GDP
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Zeeshan, GDP
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Saad, GDP
- Squadron Leader Saad Arif, Engg
- Squadron Leader Aamir Ghafoor, AD
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Arqam Raees, AD
- Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Nouman Shafique, GDP