RAWALPINDI – An investiture ceremony was held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday to confer military awards on ghazis and martyrs of Pakistan army for their acts of gallantry during counter-terror operations.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a large number of military officials and relatives of shuhada and ghazis attended the ceremony.

It said 32 army officers were awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence), two were awarded Tamgha-e-Jurat and 33 officers/soldiers got awarded Tamgha-e-Bisalat. Four officers have been given UN medals for their act of bravery during peace-keeping missions.

Medals of Shuhada were received by their family members.

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid rich tributes to the martyrs.

“I salute the mothers of our ghazis and martyrs. No medal can act as substitute for the supreme sacrifice of our martyrs,” General Bajwa said.

“Pakistan has rooted out terrorists from the country and the country is gradually heading towards peace and prosperity.”

“We have a firm message for the enemies of Pakistan that they shall never succeed in their designs,” he said.

The army chief said some people have launched a new movement after the restoration of peace in the federally-administered tribal areas (FATA).