Last living child of Zulfikar Bhutto receives Nishan-i-Pakistan on father’s behalf

The younger daughter and last living child of former Prime Minister (PM) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, has received the Nishan-i-Pakistan award posthumously on her father’s behalf in recognition of his work in public service.

The investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr on Sunday, where Sanam Bhutto received Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on behalf of her late father. President Asif Ali Zardari presented the award in the presence of First Lady Aseefa Bhutto.

Sanam Bhutto was overwhelmed with emotion and broke into tears during the ceremony, while the hall of the President’s House echoed with chants of Jeay Bhutto.

On April 4, 1979, founder of PPP Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed after being convicted in a controversial murder case during the dictatorship of General Zia. He was buried at his family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Baksh.

In March last year, the Supreme Court acknowledged that Bhutto’s trial was unfair and deprived of due process at both the trial and appellate levels, correcting what was seen as a historic miscarriage of justice.

Notable figures, including Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, parliamentarians, diplomats, media representatives and members of civil society were present at the ceremony.

The honorees included Air Marshal (Retd.) Raja Shahid Hamid who was posthumously honoured with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for his outstanding service. Sultan Ali Akbar Allana was awarded the Nishan-i-Khidmat for his impactful work in the financial sector.

The Hilal-i-Imtiaz was awarded to several individuals for their extraordinary contributions, including Javed Jabbar for literature, Allah Rakhi Shaheed for her service to education, and Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah for his excellence in civil service.

Syed Ali Haider Gilani was acknowledged for his contributions to public service, while Hussain Dawood was honored for his philanthropic efforts. Sadia Rashid was also awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in recognition of her impactful work in the education sector.

Other recipients who were conferred with awards in different categories included Barkat Shah Presidential Pride of Performance Award, Haydar Qurbonov Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Dr Christine Brunhilde Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Agostino Da Polenza Tamgha-i-Pakistan, Professor Valevia Piacentini Tamgha-i-Pakistan, Syed Shakeel Shah Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Ashhad Jawwad Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Amin Muhammad Lakhani Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Rehan Mahtab Chawla Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Syed Jawad Hussain Jafferi Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Professor Dr Usman Qamar Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Mohtarma Dr Sara Qureshi Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

Meanwhile, President Zardari also conferred military awards to officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force on Sunday.

Two Sitara-i-Basalat, 227 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 82 Imtiazi Asnad, 185 COAS Commendation Cards, 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 112 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and 133 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) have been awarded, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement on Sunday.