Islamabad 14 August: Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day was commemorated with a solemn focus on Marka-e-Haq, the recent armed conflict with India, as the Presidency hosted a special investiture ceremony to honour the COAS, PAF Chief, PPP Chief with the nation’s top civil and military awards.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir received the Hilal-e-Jurat from President Asif Ali Zardari in recognition of his leadership during one of the country’s most testing times. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu was also decorated with the Hilal-e-Jurat for his role in the conflict.
The awards came in the aftermath of the Pakistan-India hostilities, which erupted after New Delhi claimed to target alleged perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In response to Indian strikes inside Pakistan, Islamabad launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, downing six Indian fighter jets — including three Rafale aircraft — in what it termed retaliation against “unprovoked aggression.”
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Alongside military action, Pakistan initiated a diplomatic offensive, dispatching a high-level parliamentary delegation led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the US, UK, and Europe. The team — including Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Dr Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt, and Syed Faisal Subzwari — engaged with senior foreign officials to present Pakistan’s stance and counter Indian narratives. For his efforts, Bilawal received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
President Zardari also conferred gallantry awards to armed forces personnel for courage and sacrifice during the operation. These included eight Sitara-e-Jurat, five Tamgha-e-Jurat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-e-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and one Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military).
Notably, senior journalist and The News Editor Investigations Ansar Abbasi declined to accept the Marka-e-Haq Award, telling the Cabinet Secretary that “the entire nation” was deserving of the honour. He stated that he had done nothing extraordinary, describing his work as part of his duty.
