Pakistan to confer prestigious award on Peshawar school victims

Pakistan has decided to confer prestigious bravery medals on the victims of last month's Peshawar school massacre, officials said on Saturday. About 150 people, mostly children, were killed in the December 16 attack carried out by the Taliban.

The decision to confer 'Tamgha-i-Shujaat' on the 145 students and staff members of the Army Public School who were killed in the attack was taken on Friday in a meeting presided over by President Mamnoon Hussain, an official said. A civilian, who was killed in the attack, would also be awarded. However, it was not clear whether the security personnel killed will be awarded. 

The injured would also be awarded. Separately, Tamgha-i-Shujaat would also be conferred on a policeman killed when he stopped a suicide bomber at the gate of the Peshawar Press Club in December, 2009. The civilian military nominees are conferred the awards every year on the country's Independence Day on August 14.