GUJAR KHAN: The 72nd martyrdom anniversary of Captain Raja Mohammad Sarwar, the first recipient of Nishan-i-Haider, was celebrated in his native village Singhori in Gujar Khan on Monday.

A contingent from Punjab Regiment presented a guard of honour at the mausoleum of Captain Sarwar while Brigadier Navid Ahmed from 10 Corps Rawalpindi laid a wreath on behalf of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Brigadier Ahmed on the occasion said Raja Mohammad Sarwar is the pride of Pakistan Army and our forces are always ready to foil the evil designs of the enemy.

ISPR Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar in a tweet said: “Nation venerates supreme sacrifice of Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Nishan-i-Haider, Kashmir war 1948. His insurmountable courage and unwavering loyalty will forever be an epitome of valiance. Every bullet he took for country, for Kashmir, strengthens our resolve to defend Pakistan at all cost.”

Later, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz in a statement said the brave sons who sacrificed their lives for the motherland are the pride of the nation.

During the ceremony, the grandson of Sarwar Shaheed, Major Adeel Sarwar said he was proud of his grandfather and also ready to sacrifice his life for the motherland.

Major Adeel along with Brigadier Ahmed and Assistant Commissioner Gujar Khan Hira Rizwan also planted a sapling in memory of Capt Sarwar Shaheed.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2020