President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Shujaat on Liaqat Shaheed, the civilian who sacrificed his life while preventing a suicide attack near Kohat, in recognition of his extraordinary bravery and national sacrifice.
According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the award was approved by the president on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Paying tribute to Liaqat Shaheed, President Zardari said the brave citizen averted a major tragedy by confronting a suicide bomber and sacrificing his own life in the process.
“Liaqat Shaheed’s courage, sense of duty and sacrifice are a shining example for the nation,” the president said, adding that the martyr displayed unmatched bravery by standing firm in front of the attacker.
Security sources said the incident occurred in the inter-provincial area between Jand tehsil in Punjab and the Khushal Garh Bridge region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the suspected militant linked to Fitna al-Khawarij was moving through agricultural fields.
Liaqat, a retired Pakistan Railways employee and local resident, reportedly intercepted the suspect and demanded identification before the attacker detonated explosives. The blast resulted in the martyrdom of Liaqat and the death of the suicide bomber.
President Zardari said the nation salutes its brave son for preventing a possible large-scale tragedy through his unparalleled courage and sacrifice.
