GUJRAT, Sept 6: General Officer Commanding Major General Obaidullah Khan laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum of 1965 war hero and Nishan-i-Haider recipient Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed.

A ceremony was held at Bhatti’s mausoleum in the Ladian village of Kharian tehsil, which was attended by Gujrat DCO Asif Bilal Lodhi, Azizi Bhatti’s son Muhammad Zafar, as well as high-ranking military and civil officers. They offered fateha for the departed soul whereas a contingent of the army presented a salute at the mausoleum.

Speaking to participants of the ceremony, GOC Khan paid tribute to the sacrifice of Aziz Bhatti and said such heroes must be remembered for laying down their lives while defending the country. DCO Asif Lodhi also spoke on the occasion.

Besides Aziz Bhatti, two other recipients of Nishan-i-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan for bravey, belonged to Gujrat district, including Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed and Major Akram Shaheed. The forefathers of Rashid Minhas Shaheed also hailed from Gujrat.

Another ceremony to mark Defence Day was held at the University of Gujrat where students organised a rally on the roads of the Hafiz Hayat campus.

UoG Vice-Chancellor Dr Nizamuddin and other faculty members also participated in the rally. The VC also spoke to the participants.