PESHAWAR: Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with traditional fervour and solemnity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on Tuesday.

In the provincial capital, the main function took place at the Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium, Peshawar, where Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the chief guest. He also took a round of the exhibition of armament which was on display on the occasion.

Serving and retired military officers and their families, the officials of civil administration, students and a large number of people visited the exhibition where they were briefed by the army officers at the stalls of infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, Corps of Signals, air defence, logistic and Frontier Corps.

Para-jumping, fly past, folk dances and army band display attained a lot of public attraction.

A special ceremony was also held at Yadgar-i-Shuhada to pay tribute to the martyrs. Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra along with retired Lt Gen Mumtaz Gul and acting Corps Commander Major General Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood laid a floral wreath at the monument and presented salute.

People pay respects to martyrs of 1965 War

In Swabi, a special floral wreath-laying ceremony was held at the grave of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) at his native town in the district to pay homage to the courageous hero of Kargil War. Brig Abdul Sami laid floral wreath at his tomb and offered fateha.

A smart contingent of the Pakistan Army presented salute to pay respect to him.

Leaders of various political parties said that those people or soldiers who had laid down their lives for the motherland would always be remembered. They were talking to mediapersons during their separate visits to the mausoleum of Captain Sher Khan Shaheed on Defence Day.

District nazim Ameer Rehman said that the enemy’s nefarious designs were foiled both in 1965 war and Kargil conflict by the Pakistan Army. He said that it was Kargil hero, Captain Karnal Sher Khan, who entered the Indian camp and continued fight till his last. He is the lone receiver of the highest military award of Nishan-i-Haider from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said.

Local political leaders of PML-N, ANP and JUI-F said that the nation was proud of their courageous armed forces who had always defended the country bravely against the enemies. The Defence Day was also observed in the Swabi Women University and University of Swabi.

In Gilgit, people celebrated the Defence Day with traditional fervour and functions were held across Gilgit-Baltistan region on Tuesday to pay tribute to the national heroes and martyrs of 1965 war.

Special prayers were offered on this occasion with the pledge to offer all sacrifices for defence of the motherland. Force commander Major General Asim Munir laid a floral wreath at the grave of Lalik Jan Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) in Hundur valley in Ghizer district. A regiment of Northern Light Infantry presented salute and prayed for Shaheed Lalik Jan and other martyrs.

Speaking on the occasion, the force commander said that Lalik Jan and GB soldiers had made history by sacrificing their lives for the country. He said that Lalik Jan revived the memories of his forefathers who had stood against aggression in 1948 and liberated the region.

The main function was held at the FCNA, Gilgit, where Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman was the chief guest. It was attended by relatives of martyrs and civil and military officials. One-minute silence was also observed to pay respects to the war heroes.

In Battagram, functions were held in various schools to celebrate the Defence Day here on Tuesday. The students exhibited artwork, delivered speeches and sang national songs to commemorate the efforts of Pakistan’s armed forces during the 1965 war.

In Mansehra, the Defence Day was marked with great patriotism as rallies and programmes were held to pay homage to heroes who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. The students and faculty of Helping Hand Institute of Rehabilitation Science at Datta also took out a rally on this occasion.

In Karak, Khushal Khan Khattak University’s vice-chancellor Prof Mohammad Ibrahim said that Sept 6 had a great importance in the history of Pakistan. Speaking at function organised by the university, he paid rich tribute to the heroes of 1965 war.

In Ghalanai, speaking at the Defence Day function at Mohmand Rifles Headquarters, Commandant Mohmand Rifles Col Asif Iqbal said that peace had been restored in the area due to sacrifices rendered by the security forces.

In Khar, elders of Bajaur Agency pledged their continued support to the security forces to rid the region of all kinds of anti-social elements. They were speaking at a function at the Bajaur Scouts Headquarters.

Published in Dawn September 7th, 2016