Islamabad — Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, along with personnel who fought in the recent four-day war with India, referred to as “Marka-i-Haq” or the “Battle of Truth”, were honoured in a high-profile investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday, coinciding with the country’s 79th Independence Day.
President Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, decorated senior political figures, armed forces commanders, diplomats, and media personalities for their contributions during the April–May confrontation, which followed the Pahalgam attack and concluded with a United States-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Gallantry Awards for Armed Forces
Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurat for his leadership throughout the 18-day conflict, praised for unquestionable courage and unshakeable patriotism. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu received the same honour for commanding Pakistan’s air operations during the night of May 6–7. Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf was conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for safeguarding maritime frontiers and forcing the Indian Navy to retreat.
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, was awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) for his advisory role during the crisis. Senior Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) officials, including Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik Director General ISI, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General ISPR, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Operations Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Operations Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed and Director General Military Intelligence Maj Gen Wajid Aziz were among those who received the Sitara-i-Basalat.
Eight Pakistan Air Force pilots were awarded the Sitara-i-Jurat for their valour during the May 2025 war with India. Six of them were recognised for shooting down the Indian Air Force aircraft, while two were decorated for their role in destroying India’s S-400 air defence battery.
The Prime Minister also awarded personnel martyred during Marka-i-Haq. Those personnel awarded honours posthumously were:
- Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Basalat
- Senior Technician Najeeb Sultan (Shaheed) — Imtiazi Sanad
- Senior Tech Muhammad Ayaz Chief Technician Muhammad Aurangzeb (Shaheed) — Imtiazi Sanad
- Corporal Technician Farooq (Shaheed) — Imtiazi Sanad
- Senior Technician Mubashir (Shaheed) — Imtiazi Sanad
- Havaldar Muhammad Naveed (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Basalat
- Naik Waqar Khalid (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Basalat
- Naik Abdul Rehman — Tamgha-i-Jurat
- Lance Naik Dilawar Khan (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Basalat
- Lance Naik Ikramullah (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Jurat
- Sepoy Nisar Ali (Shaheed) — Sitara-i-Basalat
- Sepoy Adeel Akbar (Shaheed) — Tamgha-i-Jurat
Political Leadership Recognised
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was decorated with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for countering India’s diplomatic offensive. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Adviser Rana Sanaullah were also honoured for roles ranging from strategic leadership to national unity and information management.
During the tensions, Attaullah Tarar “ensured complete coordination in the dissemination of information… successfully countering India’s propaganda and powerfully highlighting Pakistan’s stance,” state broadcaster PTV quoted in an X post.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for spearheading a high-profile diplomatic mission to New York, London, and Brussels, where the delegation presented Pakistan’s case at key international platforms. Members of this team, Dr Musadik Malik, Senator Sherry Rehman, Khurram Dastgir, Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Faisal Subzwari, Tehmina Janjua, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, were each awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for their part in challenging India’s narrative abroad. The official citation credited them with representing Pakistan’s position “across the world against India’s one-sided narrative.”
Senator Sherry Rehman marked the occasion on X, posting a photograph of herself with the award and expressing gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. She noted that this was her second civilian honour, having previously received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz “in service to my motherland, Pakistan.”
Media and Other Recipients
Veteran journalists such as Hamid Mir, Javed Chaudhry, and Salim Safi were awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Numerous military personnel, including those martyred in action, received gallantry medals ranging from Sitara-i-Jurat to Tamgha-i-Basalat.
The awards capped a day of remembrance and celebration, with national leaders describing August 14 as a symbol of “courage, unity and sacrifice” in the face of both historical struggles and modern-day challenges.
In total, four Tamgha-i-Jurrat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalat, 43 Tamgha-i-Basalat, seven Tamgha-i-Shujat, eight Sitara-i-Imtiaz and 43 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz were awarded, alongside numerous commendation cards and mentions in dispatches.
The ceremony also posthumously honoured military personnel killed in action, including pilots, soldiers, and technicians.
