ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Shujaat on Liaqat Shaheed, the civilian who embraced martyrdom while stopping a suicide bomber near Kohat, in recognition of his bravery and sacrifice for the nation.
The approval was granted on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
Paying tribute to Liaqat Shaheed, President Zardari said the courageous citizen prevented a major loss of life by sacrificing himself while confronting the suicide attacker. He remarked that Liaqat Shaheed’s courage, sense of responsibility and sacrifice would remain a shining example for the nation.
The president further stated that the martyr demonstrated extraordinary bravery by standing fearlessly in front of the suicide bomber and stopping him before he could carry out his attack.
According to security sources, the incident occurred in the inter-provincial region between Jand tehsil in Punjab and Khushal Garh Bridge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attacker, said to be linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, was reportedly moving through nearby fields before being intercepted.
Liaqat, a retired employee of Pakistan Railways and a resident of the area, stopped the suspect and demanded identification. During the encounter, the militant detonated the explosives he was carrying, resulting in the martyrdom of Liaqat and the death of the attacker.
President Zardari said the entire nation saluted its brave son for displaying unparalleled courage and making the ultimate sacrifice to prevent what could have been a large-scale tragedy.