Liaqat posthumously awarded for foiling suicide attack

(LEFT to right) President Asif Ali Zardari confers the Sitara-i-Shuja’at upon the mother of Liaqat Ali, a former railway employee who thwarted a suicide attack in Attock; the Hilal-i-Imtiaz upon playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed, and cricketer Shahid Afridi at an investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-i-Sadr.—X/@Pres Of Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Liaqat, a railway employee who thwarted a suicide attack in Attock, was among several Pakistani nationals and foreigners who were conferred civil awards by President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday in recognition of their outstanding services in various fields. President Zardari posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Shujaat to Liaquat for his extraordinary bravery and sacrifice, following the recommendations from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider. The civil gallantry award was received by the deceased’s mother. Liaqat embraced martyrdom after courageously intercepting a suicide attacker near the Mankoor check post in the Jand tehsil of Attock district, preventing what officials described as a major tragedy and saving numerous lives. The investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr, where various personalities were conferred with civil awards in recognition of their services in health, education, literature, journalism, public service, research, diplomatic affairs, sports and the economy. President Zardari confers civil awards on prominent Pakistani and foreign nationals The ceremony was attended by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, federal ministers, the Senate chairman, parliamentarians, members of civil society, diplomats, media representatives and a large number of guests. Nishan-i-Imtiaz (posthumous) was conferred upon late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, and late Irfanul Haq Siddiqui in recognition of their outstanding services to the country. The recipients of Nishan-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz included Attaul Haq Qasmi, Shahid Khan Afridi, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Muhammad Ali, Asghar Nadeem