Asif Ali Zardari has approved the award of Sitara-e-Shujaat for Liaqat Shaheed, the civilian who sacrificed his life while stopping a suicide bomber near Kohat.
The approval was granted on the recommendation of Shehbaz Sharif, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
Paying tribute to Liaqat Shaheed, President Zardari said the brave citizen prevented a major loss of life by confronting the suicide attacker and sacrificing himself for the safety of others.
“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 suicide bomber.
According to security sources, the incident took place in the inter-provincial area between Jand tehsil in Punjab and Khushal Garh Bridge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the attacker, linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, was moving through fields.
Liaqat Shaheed, a retired employee of Pakistan Railways and a resident, stopped the suspect and asked for identification before the militant detonated explosives.
The blast resulted in the martyrdom of Liaqat Shaheed and the death of the attacker.
President Zardari said the nation salutes its brave son for displaying extraordinary courage and preventing a possible large-scale tragedy through his sacrifice.