HYDERABAD: Activists of political and religious parties, civil society, public and private organisations and educational institutions took out rallies, organised flag-hoisting ceremonies, colourful programmes with display of fireworks and distributed sweets among people in an unusual outpouring of enthusiasm across the province to mark the 70th Independence Day on Monday.

A large number of people, mostly youths on motorcycles and on foot, came out of their houses and actively participated in rallies and programmes being held across Hyderabad district since Aug 13 evening.

Public and private buildings were decorated with electric bulbs and buntings, while eye-catching display of fireworks was seen at Hyderabad Gymkhana, Shahbaz Building, Saddar and other areas.

The youths in the rallies enjoyed fireworks and danced to the tune of national songs being played from sound systems mounted on vehicles or kept at welcome camps at Gul Centre, Timber Market and other parts of the district.

Activists of MQM-P, Milli Muslim League, Pak Sarzameen Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, PML-N, PML-F, minorities including Hindus and Christians, trade bodies, mohalla committees, students and teachers of educational institutions and organisations of physically-challenged people took out rallies.

Cadet College Petaro, University of Sindh, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Centre of Excellence in Art and Design and other educational institutions organised functions to pay tribute to freedom fighters.

A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at old zila nazim secretariat in which Hyderabad Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo and deputy inspector general of police Khadim Hussain Rind participated.

Similar programmes were organised in Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Tando Mohammad Khan.

DADU: Three major programmes marking Independence Day were organised by police, Civil Hospital and Sindh University Dadu campus. Other government and private organisations also arranged functions.

At the main programme at Police Lines, SSP Shabbir Ahmed Sethar cut the cake of Independence Day and MPA Syed Ghulam Shah Jilani hoisted national flag.

Another programme was held at Civil Hospital where DC Raja Shahzaman Khuhro distributed sweets among patients. The third programme was organised by the Sindh University, Dadu campus.

Rallies were taken out by Ustad Bukhari Government Boy’s Degree College, Yasir Public School and municipal committee.

Similar programmes were held in Johi, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sehwan, Kotri and Jamshoro towns.

SUKKUR: Like other parts of the country, Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour in Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts.

In Sukkur, the main event was held at Jinnah Municipal Stadium where Mayor Arsalan Islam Shaikh, Deputy Mayor Tariq Chohan, DC Raheem Bux Maitlo, SSP Masud Bangash and elected representatives hoisted the national flag and recited national anthem while students presented tableaus and danced to national songs.

A display of fireworks was organised at Navy Park in Rohri late at night on Aug 13. Another flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Sukkur DIG police office where DIG retired Capt Syed Feroze Shah hoisted the national flag.

Sukkur Development Alliance organised a programme on Bundar Road. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf cut a cake weighing 300 pounds at Jatoi House while Tanzeem Fikro Nazar also held a function.

Similar programmes were held at government and private institutions in different talukas of Sukkur district.

In Jacobabad, the main event was held at Bahria College where DC of Jacobabad Mohammad Naeem Sindhu, SSP Sarfaraz Nawaz Shaikh, chairman of municipal committee Mir Ghulam Abbas Jakhrani, district president PPP Jacobabad Mir Liaquat Ali Lashari hoisted national flag.

A display of fireworks was held by the district administration at Shaheed Benazir Park during the midnight of Sunday-Monday where a cake was cut by DC and chairman of municipal committee.

Rallies were taken out by activists of PPP, PTI, JI, Hindu General Panchayat, Chamber of Commerce, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, Mazdoor Shehri Ittehad, Qaumi Aman Committee and Jamote Qaumi Movement.

In Kandhkot-Kashmore district, the main event of flag-hoisting ceremony was held at mini stadium where DC Munawar Mithiani, SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro and Col Idrees of Rangers hoisted the national flag.

In Ghotki district, the flag-hoisting ceremony was held on the grounds of district headquarter hospital Mirpur Mathelo.

LARKANA: Independence Day was celebrated throughout Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot with flag-hoisting ceremonies at district and taluka headquarters and rallies taken out in the city and Qambar town.

The main flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Peoples Stadium where Larkana commissioner along with DC and mayor unfurled the national flag and saluted it. Pigeons were released into the air and schoolchildren presented tableaus and sang national songs.

An Independence Day programme was also held at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University.

BADIN: Various programmes were organised in all big and small towns of the district to celebrate Independence Day. In the main event, Deputy Commissioner Shoukat Hussain Jokhio, SSP Abdul Qayyum Pitafi and chairman of district council hoisted the national flag.

Similar programmes were held in Matli, Tando Bago, Talhar, Golarchi, Kadhan, Pangrio, Rajo Khanani, Golarchi, Nindo Shahar, Khoski, Shadi Large, Kario Ghanwar and other towns.

MITHI: Several events were held to mark Independence Day in Tharparkar district.

The main event was held in Mithi in which Thar DC Dr Abdul Hafeez Sial, SSP Ameer Saud Magsi, MPA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, Dr Manoj, Dr Ghulam Haider Samejo and others participated.

Similar events were held in Diplo, Islamkot, Chhachhro, Chelhar, Kaloi, Nagarparkar, Dahil, Kensar and other towns of the district.

Thousands of people thronged the hilly areas of Nagarparkar and other picnic points as it was public holiday.

Meanwhile, mining companies, power firms and development sector organisations working in Thar Block-II in Islamkot taluka also celebrated Independence Day and reiterated their commitment to bring Pakistan out of darkness.

KHAIRPUR: The district administration and government schools celebrated the 70th Independence Day with a flag-hoisting ceremony at Government Naz Pilot Secondary School.

Chairman of district council, DC, SSP and other officials jointly hoisted the national flag as all participants sang national anthem. Later, special contingents of police, Rangers and scouts presented salute to the national flag.

UMERKOT: Independence Day was celebrated by hoisting national flag and reiterating the pledge to safeguard the motherland.

Four programmes were held in Samaro, Pithoro and Kunri following the central event convened at Government Boys Degree College by the municipal committee.

Private school association and PTI organised rallies.

SHIKARPUR: The country’s 70th Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm with a big gathering at district administration secretariat where the national flag was hoisted by DC Syed Hassan Raza Shah.

The city’s political and religious parties also took out rallies to celebrate the day.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2017