HYDERABAD: Like other parts of the country, the 17th anniversary of ‘Yaum-i-Takbeer’ was celebrated on Thursday in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Sukkur and some other parts of Sindh.

In Hyderabad, PML-N activists took out rallies to mark the day, led by Hyderabad district PML-N president Hanif Siddiqui and senior leader Sultan Shaikh separately to pay tribute to the then Nawaz-led government.

“It is a matter of pride that we are celebrating the 17th anniversary of ‘Yaum-i-Takbeer’ this year,” said Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Pro-vice Chancellor and chief guest Prof Muneer Ahmad Junejo while addressing a function held to celebrate the day at the Nuclear Institute of Medicine and Radiotherapy (NIMRA) Jamshoro.

He said May 28, 1998, was the day when Pakistan successfully conducted the nuclear test and became the only Islamic country with nuclear capability.

It was a great achievement for the nation, he added.

MPA and guest of honour Khairunnisa Mughal paid tribute to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who had initiated the nuclear programme in the country.

She appreciated services being rendered by NIMRA for patients suffering from different types of cancers.

“It is worth mentioning that NIMRA is providing better diagnostic and treatment facilities to patients,” she said.

Earlier, NIMRA Director Dr Naeem Leghari said the day was celebrated as a national day in Pakistan every year as the country joined the prestigious club of six nuclear powers on May 28, 1998 by conducting nuclear tests.

The Jacobabad PML-N organised a programme at Abro House in which a large number of workers and party leaders participated.

The event was started by cutting a cake.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial and local PML-N leaders said 17 years ago, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given the message to the enemy of Pakistan that Pakistan had become a nuclear power.

Despite tremendous pressure on the Nawaz government in Pakistan, the nuclear explosions were conducted in Chaghai (Balochistan), they said, adding that the prime minister had made the country stronger.

In Sukkur, a programme was held at the PML-N district secretariat where a cake was cut.

Addressing the participants, PML-N leaders said the decision of nuclear testing was the bold decision of PM Sharif due to which Pakis­tan had become the first Islamic and the world’s seventh nuclear power.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

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