PRESIDENT CONFERS ‘HILAL I SHUJAAT’ ON AFZAL KHAN FOR COURAGE TO STAND UP TO MILITANTS

London PPP: President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred Hilal-i-Shujaat on veteran politician and former federal and provincial minister from Frontier Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khan in recognition of the great courage and steadfastness demonstrated by him in the war against militants in Swat region.

In a statement spokesperson the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President has ordered immediate conferment of the award relaxing the rules which require announcement of the award on August 14 and the Investiture on March 23 each year. A special Investiture ceremony will now be held soon to confer the award on Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khan without waiting for March 23, he said

About two months ago the Provincial Assembly of Frontier adopted a unanimous resolution urging the President to immediately confer Hilal-i-Shujaat on the “courageous and respectable Pukhtoon leader Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Lala for courage in fighting against militancy and for the survival of Pakistan ”.

Mr. Afzal Khan fondly called Lala in Frontier belongs to village Drush Khela in Swat. When the victims of militants’ brutalities were streaming out of Swat for safety, the 78 years old Afzal Khan stood up against the militants and refused to abandon his ancestral home for fear of life, he said.

The veteran Afzal Khan stood like a rock against the militants and refused to heed the advice to migrate to a safer place. In standing up to the militants he became a tower of strength and encouragement to a besieged people. He miraculously survived several attempts on his life by militants who wanted to eliminate him to remove from the scene a symbol of defiance and courage. He and his nephew were seriously wounded in the attack. In another attack his two grandsons were assassinated and body guards seriously injured.

The conferment of Hilal-i-Shujaat on Afzal Khan also signifies determination of the President to honour symbols of courage in the fight against militants and to assure the victims that the state will not abdicate its duty to protect them.  

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Agha Tanveer Iqbal
Secretary Information
PPP Greater London
+44-07931445834