Musharraf applauds SSG; Grants operational awards
Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report

RAWALPINDI: A simple but impressive ceremony was held here Tuesday at the Army Auditorium to launch the book "SSG- Tareekh Kay Ainee Mein”. President General Pervez Musharraf, who himself is a Special Service Group officer and colonel-in-chief of this force, was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, President General Pervez Musharraf highly appreciated the role of Special Service Group in various operations while defending the motherland since its inception.

The President also recalled his association of the seven years, which he spent in Special Service Group as a young officer. He paid rich tributes to the retired senior officers who had always been guiding him in his career development.

He also acknowledged that it was because of his service in SSG that he excelled in his military career.

Perspective

In SSG esprit decorps is exemplary and their jelling is because of hardships and dangers that officers and men face together. This brings leadership and comradeship to the forefront.

The service in SSG is unique in inculcating leadership, because in SSG one has to set personal example and lead from the front and you have to be the one to sacrifice. SSG inculcates initiative, boldness, perseverance and human interaction upwards, downwards and laterally. SSG has come a long way as the time has past and everyone here positively contributed to its success.

The President said that he is extremely proud of being part of this group.

President Pervez Musharraf highlighted the role of Special Service Group in war against terrorism and paid rich tributes to the sacrifices rendered by officers and men of the SSG in this noble cause. He also highlighted the importance of Special Operation Task Force, a recently organized force and its role in countering terrorism.

Elite Force

The President showed firm commitment towards upkeep and growth of this elite force in consonance with its challenges and mission. He lauded the performance of the officers and men both during peace and war. He said that Roll of Honor of SSG speaks of their sacrifices. he said, “never have so few done so much”

President General Pervez Musharraf greatly appreciated the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Ghulam Jilani Khan, who has authored the book.

Major General Amir Faisal Alvi, GOC SSG in his opening address highlighted the role of Special Service Group in military operations and the achievements made by the elite organization.

In his address Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Ghulam Jilani Khan, shed light on the salient aspects of the book. He said that Special Service Group is an important organ of Infantry.

He said this elite force came into being in 1953 and Lieutenant Colonel Abu Bakar Mitha, who later retired as Major General from Pakistan Army, was the founding father of the SSG. The book also covers in detail the years 1966- 70 and then 1971-1973, during which President Musharraf served in Special Service Group.

Later, President General Pervez Musharraf launched the book “SSG - Tareekh Kay Ainee Mein” and presented copies of it to the families of Shuhada and senior retired SSG officers.

Grants operational awards to army officers

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has granted operational awards to the officers/personnel of the armed forces on the occasion of March 23.

The awards among other army personnel include 11 Maj. Generals, 2 Rear Admirals and 2 Air Vice Marshals of Pakistan Air force.Tamgha-i-Jurat has been awarded to Lance naik Nazir Ahmed (Shaheed) Sindh, while Imtiazi Sanad has been awarded to 9 army personals including 2 Lt Cols and 5 majors.Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) has been awarded to Maj Gen Mir Haider Ali Khan, FF, Maj Gen Sikander Afzal, AC, Maj Gen Ijaz Ahmad Bakhshi, Arty, Maj Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Punjab, Maj Gen Muhammad Waheed Akhtar Malik Signals, Maj Gen Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, Air Defence Maj Gen Shahid Niaz, Engineers, Maj Gen Muhammad Yousaf, Artillery Maj Gen S Absar Hussain, Artillery Maj Gen Javed Zia, Punjab Maj Gen Muhammad Jawed, Artillery, Maj Gen Muhammad Amin Wiqar, AMC and Maj Gen Farrukh Seir, AMC.

Sitar-e-Imtiaz (Military) has been awarded to 50 Army personals including Brig Qamar Zaman, EME, Brig Zahoor Sultan, EME, Brig Suhail Nasir, EME, Brig Muhammad Javed Arty, Brig Zafar Arty, Brig Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Engrs , Brig Khalid Parvez Nadeem, AD Brig Muhammad Latif, Artillery, Brig Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, AD, Brig Moghis Ud Din, Brig Fiaz Ahmad Satti, Punjab, Brig Tariq Suhail, FF, Brig Muhammad Zia, Arty, Brig Dawood Ahmad, Aviation, Brig Shoaib Hameed, CMI, Brig Sultan Mahmood Satti, Signals, Brig Khan Ahmad, Arty, Brig Khalid Parvez, CMI, Brig Parvez Sarwar Khan, Punjab, Brig Muhammad Arshad, Arty, Brig Shoaib Ahsan, AD, Brig Muhammad Sarwar Jamal, Engrs, Brig Ihsan Ul Haq, Arty, Brig Shahid Saleem Lone, FF, Brig Syed Taqi Naseer Rizvi, Avn, Brig Akhtar Hussain Shah, Signals, Brig Sukander Javaid, TI(M), FF, Brig Qamar Ul Hassan, Brig Naeem Ahmad Salik, psc, (L)qsl, Arty, JS HQ. PA-16316 Brig Liaqat Ali, psc, AMIE (Pak), Engrs, , Brig Arshad Mahmood, Brig Muhammad Shoaib Khan, Brig Sultan Khalid Mahmud, Brig Nizamud Din, AMC, CMH, Brig Muhammad Khalid, AMC, AFIC, Col Syed Manzar Ali, EME, HI, Col Nayyar Hassan, te, Sigs, PTA Isd. Col Amir Faizullah, psc, AMIE (Pak), Engrs, HQ Engrs NLC, Col Zaheer Ahmad, psc, ASC, PS Dte

Col Sohail Safdar, psc, Engrs, Engr Centre, Col Ahmad Raza Ghori, psc, AMIE (Pak), Engrs, HQ CWO, Col Fazal -E- Maqbool Afridi, TI(M), psc, ptsc, FF, HQ NG 5 Corps, Col Zahid Hussain, GL, HQ 11 Corps, Col Sirfraz Ahmad, psc, AMIE (Pak), Engrs, 495 Engrs Gp, Col Muhammad Khalid Nawaz, psc, isc, Baloch, BRC, Col Shahid Nazir Butt, TBt, psc, Engrs, 495 Engrs Gp, Col Atiq Ahmed Malik, psc, isc, Avn, Sta HQ Lhr, Col Mumtaz Ali Shah, psc, Baloch, Log Dte, Col Tahir Ahmad Khan, te, Sigs, Dte Gen ISI, and Col (Mrs) Rahat Faiz Ahmad, TI(M), AFNS, CMH Qta.

Tamgha-i-Imtiaz military has been awarded to 56 Lt Cols, 24 majors, 4 Navy commanders, and 12 PAF Wing Commanders. Sitara-I-Basalat has been awarded to three army personals, one Navy Lt Commander and 18 Tamgha-I-Basalat to army officers and Navy petrol man, and an Air force Squadron leader.

Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class I JCO has been awarded to 124 army officers.

Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -II (JCOs) awarded to 198 army officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -III (NCOs) awarded to 109 army officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -III (OR) awarded to 523 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -I (JCOs) awarded to 2 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -II (JCOs) awarded to 4 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -III (NCOs) awarded to 8 army officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -III (OR) awarded to 26 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -I (JCOs) awarded to 3 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class -III (OR) awarded to 21 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-I awarded to 5 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-II awarded to 21 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-III awarded to 18 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-I awarded to 37 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-II awarded to 6 military officers. Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-I awarded to 5 Frontier Corps NWFP, 3 to Pakistan Rangers (Sindh).

Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-II awarded to 8 Frontier Corps NWFP, 4 to Frontier Corps Balochistan, 2 to Pakistan (Rangers Punjab), 8 to Pakistan Rangers (Sindh). Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military) Class-III awarded to 17 Frontier Corps NWFP, 3 to Frontier Corps Balochistan, 8 to Pakistan (Rangers Punjab), 10 to Pakistan Rangers (Sindh). Promotion of Junior Commissioned officers to honorary rank of lieutenants of on active list were 2, Promotion of Junior Commissioned officers to honorary rank of lieutenants of on active list were 3 while promotion to the honorary rank of lieutenants of on active list to the following CAF personnel was 2.●