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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz on Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, late Salman Taseer and Secretary General to the President M Salman Faruqui at an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony, held on the occasion of Pakistan Day, was attended by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers, chiefs of armed forces, high ranking civil and military officers, diplomats and prominent personalities from all walks of life.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also attended the ceremony. Amna Salman Taseer received the award on behalf of her late husband Salman Taseer.
Dr Fehmida Mirza received the award for her services and struggle for the cause of parliamentary democracy, spanning almost two decades.
The late Salman Taseer held the offices of Governor, Federal Minister for Industries and Production and Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
He started his political career as a student in the late 1960s and was part of the movement for Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence. Taseer braved jail and torture for his political activities, belief in democracy and freedom of speech.
Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik was conferred the award for his continued efforts against terrorism that helped in securing durable peace in Pakistan.
He has survived five terrorist attacks and his timely decisions, strategy and deep planning have resulted in busting of terrorist networks in the country.
Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui's exemplary public services for the country are spread over 50 years. He had major contributions in social and economic uplift of the country.
