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DADU: The 72nd Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with unusual zeal and fervour in the backdrop of rising tensions on the country’s border with India and Delhi’s continued brutalities and hegemonic designs in occupied Kashmir.
Elected representatives, academicians, functionaries and civil servants hoisted national flags in separate programmes while several organisations took out rallies to celebrate the Independence Day.
Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, Dadu Deputy Commissioner Raja Shahzaman Khuhro, SSP Dr Farrukh Raza Malik, Sindh University Dadu campus pro vice chancellor Prof Dr Muneeruddin Soomro and Dadu Press Club president Tariq Leghari hoisted national flags on the premises of their offices.
Villagers hoisted a 50-metre-long national flag at Tando Rahim in Kachho belt and later took out a rally. Journalists also brought out a rally and expressed solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren.
As many as 20 rallies were taken out in the city in which students, citizens, members of religious parties and social activists took part.
Similar programmes were held in Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar towns.
LARKANA: Several rallies were taken out and a large function was held at municipal stadium to celebrate the 72nd Independence Day where Larkana commissioner, deputy commissioner, mayor and others hoisted the national flag.
Activists of PPP, PPP-Workers, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and a host of NGOs, Arts Council of Pakistan and other organisations not only took out rallies but also held separate functions to celebrate this year’s Independence Day and express solidarity with Kashmiri brethren.
The commissioner and mayor said in their speeches that it was their duty to safeguard frontiers of the motherland. They condemned India’s recent annexation of occupied Kashmir and said they stood by their Kashmiri brethren.
Dr Safdar Abbasi, president PPP-W, hoisted the national flag at Mirokhan Chowk and expressed solidarity with Kashmiris. He condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir and said the country would oppose tooth and nail the Indian move.
He said that in the midst of celebrations, nation should not forget the sacrifices of Kashmiris who were paying the price of freedom in the worst kinds of brutalities and repression. “We salute the civilians and members of our armed forces who are defending our frontiers. We stand by the people of Kashmir and Palestine on this day,” he said.
Throughout the day jubilant people were seen riding bikes and vehicles waving Pakistani and Kashmiri flags and dancing to national songs on the roads.
NAWABSHAH: Flag-hoisting and cake-cutting ceremonies were held in press club as members of political and religious parties, youngsters and activists of social organisations took out rallies to celebrate the Independence Day.
The participants waved Pakistani and Kashmiri flags and chanted slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Kashmir Banega Pakistan” as they marched on roads.
Students presented tableaus and performed on national songs in government schools while chairman Sindh Public Accounts Committee Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Shaheed Benazirabad Commissioner Syed Mohsin Shah, DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh and deputy commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jafar hoisted the national flag and cut the cake at the main programme of Independence Day at DC office.
SHIKARPUR: Students, activists of civil society and political and religious parties celebrated Independence Day with traditional fervour.
Flag-hoisting ceremonies were organised by the district administration, municipal committee, Government Girls Haji Fateh Mohammad High School and Hindu and Sikh communities while activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf took out a rally to celebrate the day and express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren.
BADIN: The district administration organised a colourful programme to celebrate the day where police presented guard of honour and national flag was hoisted.
Badin Deputy Commissioner Dr Abdul Hafeez Siyal said at the programme that everyone should realise his responsibility for the development and welfare of the country.
The speakers condemned Indian annexation of the disputed territory and inhuman treatment being meted out to Kashmiris by Indian forces since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution.
District Council Chairman Ali Asghar Halepoto said at an Independence Day function that consolidation of the objective of independence was far more important than its achievement.
He urged human rights organisations to come to the rescue of Kashmiris.
Meanwhile, members of minorities also held special congregations at their respective places of worship to express their love for the homeland and condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
MITHI: Hundreds of thousands of people celebrated the Independence Day by visiting picnic points in Mithi, Nagarparkar and other parts of the desert which had turned lush green after recent widespread rains.
Several Independence Day programmes were organised across the district in Islamkot, Diplo, Nagarparkar, Chhachhro, Dahali, Kaloi, Dano Dhandal and other towns and villages.
People belonging to different walks of life, especially schoolchildren took out rallies and expressed solidarity with people of occupied Kashmir.
KHAIRPUR: The district administration organised a big ceremony to celebrate the Independence Day in cooperation with Government Naz Pilot High School and municipal committee.
The celebrations started with playing of national anthem and hoisting of national flag. Later, special contingents of police, Rangers and scouts presented salute to the flag. Students of 15 government schools presented national songs, tableaus, speeches and cultural skits.
SUKKUR: Several programmes were held in different towns of upper Sindh including Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts to celebrate the Independence Day.
In Sukkur, the main event was held at Jinnah Municipal Stadium where Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahesar hoisted the national flag and a contingent of police, boy scouts and girl guides presented march past.
Students sang national anthem as well as Kashmiri cultural songs to express their solidarity with people of Kashmir, chanted slogans in favour of Kashmir and presented tableaus.
Sunni Tehreek took out a rally in Sukkur. In Jacobabad, Independence Day programme was held in Bahria College where students of different schools presented national anthems.
The district administration and PPP MNA Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar took out rallies which culminated at press club. Similar events were organised in Kandhkot.
MIRPURKHAS: The district administration organised a programme in which Sindh Minister for Food and Minority Affairs Hari Ram Kishori Lal hoisted the national flag to celebrate the Independence Day.
Dozens of religious, political and social organisations took out rallies and marched through main roads before arriving at local press club where leaders strongly condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
The minister said at the programme that they condemned Indian aggression and warned that they stood by Kashmiris.
Similar programmes were held in all talukas of the district.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2019
