According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the award was approved by the president on the recommendation of Shehbaz Sharif.
Paying tribute to Liaqat Shaheed, President Zardari said the courageous citizen prevented a major tragedy by sacrificing his own life while confronting the suicide attacker.
“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 occurred in the inter-provincial area between Punjab’s Jand tehsil and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khushal Garh Bridge. The attacker, said to be affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, was reportedly moving through nearby fields.
Liaqat, a retired Pakistan Railways employee and local resident, stopped the suspect and asked for identification before the militant detonated explosives. The blast resulted in Liaqat’s martyrdom and the death of the attacker.
President Zardari said the nation saluted its brave son for his extraordinary courage and sacrifice in preventing what could have been a large-scale tragedy.
