Pakistani Military Leader Field Marshal Asim Munir and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari honored with national accolades
Headline: Pakistan Celebrates 78th Independence Day, Honours Military Personnel and Civilians
Subhead: Awards conferred, government ad faces criticism, and notable recipients recognised
Pakistan marked its 78th Independence Day on Thursday with a series of events, both domestically and internationally. The day was celebrated with fervour, reflecting the nation's commitment to upholding its independence and sovereignty.
Among the notable figures honoured on this occasion were military personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Air Commodore Ali Javed Hashmi, Capt Muhammad Atif Amin, Air Commodore Zia Aftab, Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, and Air Commodore Muhammad Noman Ali Khan were conferred with the Tamgha-i-Basalat, an award for gallantry during wartime.
Other military personnel, including Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, Air Commodore Sajjad Haider, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ehsan Ulhaq, and Air Commodore Attaullah Zeb, were also awarded the Tamgha-i-Basalat.
Notable air force officers, such as Wing Commander Bilal Raza, Wing Commander Hammad Ibne Masood, Squadron Leader M Yousaf Khan, Squadron Leader Muhammad Osama Ishfaq, Squadron Leader Muhammad Hassan Anees, Squadron Leader Talal Hassan, Squadron Leader Fida Muhammad Khan, and Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Ashhad Amir, were conferred with the Sitara-i-Jurat, an award for gallantry in peace time.
Sep Nisar Ali (Shaheed) was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Basalat for his bravery and dedication to duty.
In addition to military personnel, several civilians were also honoured for their contributions to public service and governance. Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Azam Nazir Tarar, Aftab Tareen, Mohsin Naqvi, and Ahsan Iqbal were among those recognised.
However, the government's Independence Day advertisement faced criticism for excluding images of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal, the founding fathers of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu were awarded the Hilal-e-Jurat, the country's second-highest military honour, by President Asif Ali Zardari. Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, Lt Gen Shahid Imtiaz, Lt Gen Nauman Zakria, Lt Gen Wajid Aziz, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Maj Gen Tajdeed Mumtaz, Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah, Maj Gen Syed Muhammad Jawad Tariq, and Lt Commander Khurram Riaz were also conferred with various awards.
The day was marked by various ceremonies, parades, and cultural events, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to its independence and the values for which it stands. Despite the controversy surrounding the government's Independence Day advertisement, the day was celebrated with enthusiasm and patriotism across the nation.
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