President confers Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon Asif Bashir for saving Hajj pilgrims' lives

Islamabad (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz award on Asif Bashir in recognition of his outstanding services in the field of public services.

The award was conferred at a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and attended by parliamentarians.

As per the citation read out at the ceremony, Asif Bashir, who is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner in Peshawar, was selected by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs as a Moavin-i-Hajj (Hajj Assistant) for the previous year’s Hajj operation.

During the Hajj operation, the temperature soared to 51.8 degrees due to which several pilgrims had to face extreme difficulties. During such a situation, the Hajj Moavineen perform extraordinary and appreciable services which often remain unacknowledged.

The Moavineen basically are responsible for providing facilities to the Pakistani Hujjaj (pilgrims), however, they also provide possible facilities to the pilgrims belonging to other countries as well.

Asif Bashir during Hajj days was serving as a Moavin in Mina where tents of the pilgrims belonging to different countries including India were present.

On the 9th Zil Hajj, several Pakistani, Indian and British elderly Hujjaj fainted due to extremely hot weather. Tragically, 1300 people also lost their lives on that day.

In the midst of the crisis, Asif Bashir and his five-member team rushed to the scene, providing first aid to the affected pilgrims, many of whom were Indian citizens. Despite the dire circumstances, Asif Bashir physically carried 26 pilgrims, including 17 Indians, on his shoulders to the hospital. Thanks to his swift actions, the lives of these individuals were saved.

He helped the Hujjaj without knowing that some relatives of the Indian Council General Jeddah were also included among those rescued by him.

In recognition of his heroic efforts, the Indian minister for minority affairs also wrote a letter of appreciation acknowledging the exceptional hospitality and responsibility shown by the Pakistani team.