President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday paid tribute to a brave citizen who sacrificed his life while averting a suicide attack in Attock’s Jand tehsil a day earlier.

According to reports, the incident occurred near a key security post on the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtu­nkhwa bor­der, located in Jand, some 70km from Attock.

A local shepherd, identified as Liaqat, noticed a suspicious individual in the area while grazing his goats nearby. Witnesses said Liaqat confronted the suspect after sensing something unusual about the man’s behaviour. As he approached, the suspect detonated himself with a powerful explosion, claiming Liaqat’s life in the process.

In separate statements issued on Tuesday, the president and the prime minister lauded Liaqat’s sacrifice.

PM Shehbaz said that as a responsible citizen, Liaqat stopped the terrorist and asked for his identification, who then blew himself up, resulting in the shepherd’s martyrdom.

He said that Liaqat’s sacrifice would always be remembered, as he set a noble example of extraordinary courage, duty and patriotism.

“Such brave and fearless citizens are the true symbol of the national resolve against terrorism. Shaheed Liaqat’s sacrifice is a guiding light for every individual of the nation,” he said.

President Zardari said that brave citizens like Liaqat were a shining example of national resilience, patriotism and collective awareness in the fight against terrorism.

“The entire nation stands united with its security forces and law enforcement agencies for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism. The war against terrorism resulting from external support will continue,” he said.

The president also directed Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to locate Liaqat’s family and convey a message of complete national solidarity.

He said that the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its security forces and law enforcement agencies against the menace of terrorism.