Citizens visit Batapur memorial to pay tribute to martyrs. — White Star
Citizens visit Batapur memorial to pay tribute to martyrs. — White Star

LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Sunday said India will end up harming itself if it conspires against Pakistan. The defence of Pakistan is in strong hands and the enemies will be given a befitting response on all fronts.

Speaking at a flag-hoisting ceremony as well as speaking to the media, the governor said Sept 6 was the day to remember and honour martyrs who fought for the sovereignty of Pakistan. “We are proud of our armed forces and our martyrs,” he said. The befitting response of Pakistan Air Force to India on Feb 27, 2019 would also remain a golden part of history.

He said 55 years ago, the whole nation stood by the armed forces and the enemies had no option but to retreat from all fronts. “Sept 6 will always be remembered as a day of valour, bravery and national unity,” he stressed.

Mr Sarwar said the incumbent government was taking practical steps to overcome internal as well as external challenges. The whole nation was paying tribute to the soldiers, who made the country’s borders secure. “We salute our armed forces and our martyrs for their sacrifices for the security of Pakistan,” he said.

The governor also reiterated the commitment to support Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom from illegal Indian occupation. “We will fight for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination on every world forum,” he maintained.

The day marked with rallies in districts

Talking to the media, the governor said Pakistan had always extended a hand of friendship and peace, but India should not take it as Islamabad’s weakness.

CHIEF MINISTER: In his message on Pakistan Air Force Day, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said Sept 6 was a day to pay tribute to the achievements and sacrifices rendered by the “falcons of Pakistan Air Force” who set an example of courage and bravery. He said the unforgettable role of Pakistan Air Force would always be remembered in golden words, adding that the whole nation was proud of the professional abilities and capability of the PAF. Even today, he added, the air force was ready to respond to every move of the enemy with the same zeal and spirit as exhibited in 1965.

He said the air force demonstrated its professional abilities by shooting down two Indian warplanes in February last year for violating the Line of Control. “We salute the falcons of Pakistan Air Force for protecting our airspace,” he said.

Buzdar said all three armed forces were professional and always vigilant in defending the homeland. The courage and bravery displayed by the air force in the 1965 war had been written in golden words.

EVENTS: Various events were held in the city on Sunday to mark the Defence Day.

The day started with offering of special prayers at mosques for the solidarity and prosperity of the country. Later, various military and civil officers and politicians visited the monuments and graves of the martyrs of the 1965 war and laid floral wreaths there besides offering fateha for the departed souls.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif also visited a memorial at Manawan and laid a floral wreath there.

He said in a statement that it’s a day to be united against the enemy and give a message to each adversary that the nation would jointly foil every malicious step of the enemy against the homeland.

He said the nation needed to revive the spirit of 1965 when it defeated a bigger enemy. He said the country became a nuclear power under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and now no adversary could cast an evil eye on it.

PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz in a tweet attributed the day to the mothers whose valiant sons like Lt Nasir Khalid Shaheed laid their lives for safeguarding the frontiers of the homeland.

The Pakistan Awami Tehreek took out a rally to mark the day. The rally participants carrying banners, placards and national flags marched from Manawan up to Wagah border.

Paying tributes to the September 1965 war martyrs, they pledged to devote their energies and resources for the solidarity of the country.

A delegation of the party leaders, on behalf of Dr Tahirul Qadri, also laid a floral wreath at the shrine of Maj Shabbir Hussain in Miani Sahib.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) arranged a ceremony at the Liberty Chowk to pay tribute to the valiant defenders of the frontiers of the country.

SAHIWAL: Local journalists, Rescue 1122 and the civil defence department separately organised seminars and public rallies to mark Defence Day in the city.

The largest rally was organised by office-bearers of the local press club that started from the Small Industrial Estate and culminated at the grave of captain Usman. Capt Usman was martyred in an attack by the Nato forces on the Salala checkpost in Mohmand Agency in November 2011.

The rally participants were carrying flags, banners and pictures of the Sept 6 martyrs. It was led by local Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Sagheer along with several print and electronic media journalists.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Dr Khalid Abdullah also held an event in the honour of the rescuers who died while performing their duties. The Rescue 1122 staff distributed gifts among children and family members of the martyrs.

SIALKOT: The main Hilal-i-Istaqlal hoisting ceremony was held at the historic Sialkot Fort by the Municipal Corporation. Garrison Commander Maj Gen Muhammad Ishaq Khat hoisted the flag.

Provincial Minister for Special Education Chaudhry Muhammad Ikhlaq, District Police Officer Mustansar Feroze and Silakot Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Muhammad Ashraf Malik were present on the occasion.

SARGODHA: A Hilal-i-Istiqlal hoisting ceremony was held at Jinnah Hall Company Bagh that was attended by 3rd Air Defence General Officer Major General Asif Mehmood Goraya, PAF Mushaf Base Officer Commanding Air Commodore Ali Naeem Zahoor, Commissioner Dr Farah Masood, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh and other senior military and civil officers.

Major General Goraya said the people and forces of Pakistan were not only brave, but ready to face any challenges of the enemy, adding that all possible steps were being taken to make Pakistan invincible. He also paid homage to the martyrs who defended the homeland.

Air Commodore Zahoor said that every year Sept 6 “reminded us of the determination of our nation to fight aggression”. In 1965, he said, the forces sacrificed their lives for the protection of the motherland.

Commissioner Dr Masood said that the death of a martyr was the life of a nation and the sacrifices of September 1965 were the reason the nation stood proud in the world today. “We should reaffirm that we will not hesitate to sacrifice for the security and survival of our country,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner Sheikh said that Sargodha had the highest number of air strikes in the 1965 war. MM Alam had set a world record by shooting down five planes in less than two minutes, he added.

OKARA: The local chapter of the PTI headed by Chaudhry Saleem Sadiq along with provincial minister Ijaz Alam Augustine and former MNA Syed Gulzar Sibtain took out a rally to observe Defence Day.

The rally started from the compound of a cinema hall on MA Jinnah Road. Hundreds of participants shouted slogans for the country and in favour of the armed forces. Leaders of the rally also addressed the participants, pledging to support the government for the prosperity of the country.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2020

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