GILGIT: A function was held at the headquarters of the Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA) on Sunday to pay homage to Pakistan Army’s soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the Gyari sector of Siachen seven years ago.

Family members of the martyrs, politicians, army and civil officials attended the function to remember 144 soldiers who had died when an avalanche hit them on April 7, 2012.

Speaking on the occasion, Force Commander Major General Ehsan Mehmood Khan said Pakistan Army will not forget the sacrifices of the martyrs and “we will never leave their families alone”.

He said 72 of the martyrs belonged to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Major Gen Khan said members of families of 55 martyrs had been provided jobs in government departments so far and the remaining 17 families would also get jobs after Eidul Fitr.

GB Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman said the army and citizens of this country had played an important role to defeat the enemies of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2019