INSPAD peace awards announced

Islamabad: Belgium based think-tank Institute of Peace & Development INSPAD announced 16th Annual Peace Awards for renowned personalities worldwide on their extraordinary achievements in different walks of life.

These awards were decided at an 11 members jury meeting presided by INSPAD President Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, here.

The awards have four categories, Life achievements awards, Peace awards, Special performance awards and Ambassadors of peace title awards.

According to a press release by INSPAD Secretary General Shaikh Saqib Ahmed Ansari, the jury decided these awards on members recommendations to these high profile personalities as below.

1. Life Achievements Awards: Prof Jeffrey Banlaf, dean, Long Island University (USA); Abu Jodd Mehmood A Samaraey (KSA); Raja M. Zafarulhaq, Leader of House, Senate (Pakistan); Ms Bilqees Edhi, chairperson Edhi Foundation; Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, chairman PNHRC; Professor G D Langland (Chitral); Prof. Dr Chandra P Trivedi, Civilizations (India); Methew Jaskol, pioneer academics (USA); Colonel (r) Azam Qadri, military historian, author.

2. Peace Awards: Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah, President J&K Democratic Freedom Party (Srinagar); Prof. Dr Maha Aziz, New York University (USA); Dr Sharif Muhammad Alhadeed Alrafai (Turkey); Ansar Burney, chairman Ansar Burney Foundation; Stafen Schmitt, director Physician for Human Rights; Timothy Todd Shea, executive director CDRS; Dr Khurshid A Chaudhry; chairman, Deen Int'l (UK); Dr Maria Sultan, DG SASSI, defence expert; Dr Liwen Zhang (Columbia University); Khushi Muhammad Tariq, broadcaster, poet (Gilgit).

3. Special Performance Awards: Mechael Pirvot, director ENAR (Belgium EU); Akbar Hussain Akbar, author, writer, editor (Gilgit); Dr Fayyaz Ahmed Bhat, Kashmir Information Centre (Kashmir, India); Agha Tariq Khan Human, rights activist; Salim Abdullah, activist (Burma); Sardar Tanweer Ilyas Khan, president.