Piotr Stanczak, a geologist who was captured and murdered by the Taliban while in Pakistan, has posthumously received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta from President Komorowski.

The Presidential Chancellery announced the decision, Monday, stating that the geologist was awarded the Cross for “outstanding achievement in his profession and showing a steadfast attitude in face of threatening danger.”

Former President Lech Kaczynski started the formal procedure over honouring Stanczak in January this year. After Kaczynski’s death in April’s Smolensk catastrophe, the proceedings were put on hold.

Last week, a petition sent to the Presidential Chancellery hastened the process, resulting in today’s honours.

Piotr Stanczak was working for Geofizyka Krakow when he was abducted by armed assailants on 28 September 2009 some 200 km south-east of Islamabad.

Three Pakistanis, a driver and two bodyguards who accompanied the Polish engineer were shot dead during the kidnapping. The Taliban announced the beheading of the geologist on 7 February 2009. (jb)

Source: PAP