President Asif Ali Zardari has officially approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Shujaat on Liaqat Shaheed, the civilian who gave his life to stop a suicide bomber near Kohat. This award recognizes his exceptional bravery and selflessness at the national level. The president’s decision came following a recommendation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a significant development, President Zardari paid tribute to Liaqat Shaheed, highlighting that his courageous act prevented a major loss of life. He described Liaqat’s sacrifice as a powerful example of duty and valor, emphasizing that the martyr stood resolutely in the face of imminent danger posed by the suicide attacker.
The incident occurred in the inter-provincial region between Punjab’s Jand tehsil and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khushal Garh Bridge. Security sources revealed that the attacker, affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, was moving through the fields when Liaqat, a retired Pakistan Railways employee and local resident, confronted him. Liaqat stopped the suspect and requested identification, at which point the militant detonated explosives, resulting in Liaqat’s martyrdom and the attacker’s death.
Meanwhile, the president expressed the nation’s deep respect for Liaqat Shaheed’s extraordinary courage and sacrifice, which averted what could have been a large-scale tragedy. His actions have been hailed as a shining example of bravery and patriotism for the entire country.
