Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the nomination of Liaquat Shaheed for the country’s highest civil award in recognition of his bravery and sacrifice after he lost his life while thwarting a suspected suicide attack in Attock district.
The chief minister paid tribute to the martyred citizen, saying brave individuals like Liaquat were the true heroes of the Pakistani nation.
“Liaquat Shaheed set the highest example of sacrifice for the country by giving his life,” Maryam Nawaz said in her statement, adding that his great sacrifice would always be remembered.
According to official details, the incident took place near the inter-provincial area of Jand and Khushalgarh Bridge along the border region of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Authorities said a suspected foreign terrorist was moving through agricultural fields near the area when Liaquat, a resident of Mankoor village in the tehsil Jand of Attock district, intercepted him and questioned him about his identity.
Officials said the suspect, believed to be a suicide bomber, became nervous during the encounter and detonated himself. Liaquat embraced martyrdom on the spot, while the attacker was also killed in the explosion.
According to initial investigations, the suspected bomber was allegedly attempting to reach a sensitive security check post located in the inter-provincial border area. However, Liaquat’s intervention foiled the alleged plan and prevented what authorities described as a potential major tragedy.
Officials stated that the martyred citizen effectively acted as a human shield in front of the attacker, saving not only the nearby post but also many innocent lives in the surrounding area.
Liaquat Shaheed was a retired employee of Pakistan Railways.
Security officials described the incident as another attempted act of terrorism by Khawarij elements allegedly operating under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban. Authorities reiterated that security forces, police and the public remained united against terrorism and extremist threats.
