ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Hilal-i-Shujaat on veteran politician Muhammad Afzal Khan Lala at an investiture held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.The investiture was attended among others by Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, cabinet members and provincial ministers.
Hilal-i-Shujaat has been conferred on Muhammad Afzal Khan Lala, a former federal and NWFP minister, in recognition of the great courage and steadfastness demonstrated by him during the operation against militants in Swat.
The citation read out on the occasion said: “With granite determination he refused to abandon his village and inspired his people to stand up to bigotry, fanaticism and extremism”.Talking to reporters Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the provincial assembly of NWFP had adopted a unanimous resolution about three months ago, urging the president to immediately confer Hilal-i-Shujaat on Afzal Lala for his courage in fighting against militancy for the survival of Pakistan.
Afzal Khan fondly called Lala in NWFP belongs to the village of Drush Khela in Swat. When the victims of militants were streaming out of Swat for safety, 78-year-old Afzal Khan stood up against militants and refused to abandon his ancestral home for fear of life, he added. In standing up to militants he became a tower of strength and encouragement to the besieged people.
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