KASUR, Sept 2: Trumpets and fire shots mark the daily flag-lowering ceremony at a Joint Check Post Col Ghulam Husain Shaheed.

The enthralling event is a routine here, but it has a significance of its own. Kasur is the only district after Lahore where the ceremony is held.

The Joint Check Post Col Ghulam Husain Shaheed has a rich military history. It was previously known as JCP Ganda Singh Wala, a town near the post the original name of which was Burg Khurd.

The area was named after one of the leading Sikh warriors of the 18th century called Ganda Singh, who was a part of the Ranjeet Singh army and one of the commanders who kept siege against the British army for many months in the famous battle of Multan.

Ganda Singh also took part in the Sikh war in 1848-49 (in the battle of Sutlej), and played a major role in the defeat handed over to the British army in the battle of Chillianwala.

Ganda Singh, an instrumental commander of the Sikhs, is said to have converted some mosques into stables during his era.

The Pakistan Army and the Rangers wanted that the name of JCP Ganda Singh Wala should be changed and the place renamed after a Pakistan Army officer. Their persistent efforts in convincing the higher-ups bore fruit when Gen Zarar Azeem changed its name to JCP Col Ghulam Husain Shaheed.

The late Col Husain, who served in the army as a commanding officer, put up a valiant fight on the battlefield in the 1971 war. He was decorated with Hilal-i-Jurat.

Change of guard and flag-lowering ceremony between the jawans of the Pakistan Rangers and Indian border security is a regular feature in the sub-continent.

The almost one-hour ceremony starts with the recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by trumpets and buggles. As the ceremonial guards enter the drill area, the junior commander of the BSP takes permission from the senior Pakistani army official and begins with the change of guards. It concludes at the flag lowering.

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