President Zardari confers top civil, military honours for services in Marka-e-Haq

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday conferred the country’s top civil and military awards on national leaders, senior commanders and government officials in recognition of their services during Marka-e-Haq, in which Pakistan claimed to have inflicted a “humiliating defeat” on India.

At a ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir received the Hilal-i-Jurat for leading the army and formulating war strategy, while Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf were conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, and DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik received the Sitara-i-Basalat.

Other recipients included DG Military Operations Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed and Rear Admiral Shahzad Hamid, who were awarded the Tamgha-i-Basalat.

The ISPR said the president also approved honours for officers and soldiers of the armed forces for “conspicuous courage and supreme sacrifice” during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Marka-e-Haq. The list included 8 Sitara-i-Jurat, 5 Tamgha-i-Jurat, 24 Sitara-i-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and one Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military).

On the civilian side, senior political leaders were awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for what officials called “outstanding performance and strategic acumen” in countering India’s political, diplomatic and informational campaigns.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was honoured for “exposing India’s unilateral diplomatic offensives” at global forums. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were among those recognised for their respective contributions.

Special Assistant to the PM Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister Musadik Malik, former ambassador Tariq Fatemi, Senators Sherry Rehman, Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Bushra Anjum, NA Foreign Affairs Committee chair Hina Rabbani Khar, and Khurram Dastgir Khan were also awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for promoting Pakistan’s stance abroad.