KARACHI: In a rare show of unity, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah together visited the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to pay homage to the father of the nation on the occasion of his birth anniversary on Friday.

CM Shah reached the Quaid’s mausoleum in the morning a little before to receive the governor.

They offered fateha and laid floral wreaths together at the mazar.

People largely appreciated the message communicated through this gesture when a video was posted on social media by an aide of the CM.

Both Governor Ismail and CM Shah also penned their comments in the visitors’ book with a specific reference to the Quaid’s birth anniversary.

PMA cadets assume guard duty at a ceremony at mausoleum

They did not speak to the media and left the premises.

Change of guard at Quaid’s mausoleum

A total of 78 cadets, including six female cadets, from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) on Friday assumed guard responsibilities of Mazar-i-Quaid in an impressive ceremony.

PMA Commandant Major General Omer Ahmed Bukhari was the chief guest on the occasion. The ceremony was also attended by senior military and civil officials and prominent citizens.

Of the 78 PMA cadets, 72 represented the 144 and 147 Long Course while female cadets were from the Lady Cadet Corps 17.

Maj Gen Bukhari laid a wreath and offered fateha.

The ceremony concluded with a march past by the cadets assuming guard responsibilities.

PTI delegation

A delegation of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday visited the Quaid’s mausoleum and paid rich tributes to the father of the nation on his birth anniversary.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi and city president Khurram Sher Zaman laid a wreath at the mausoleum, offered fateha and prayed for the prosperity and development of the country.

Later, Mr Naqvi told the media that his party would play its role in fulfilling the dreams of Quaid-i-Azam.

Mr Sher Zaman recalled an incident at the mausoleum involving Capt Safdar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and lashed out at him for doing what he called politics at the mazar.

KU seminar

A special seminar to mark the birth anniversary of the founder of the nation was organised at the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi on Thursday.

Senior journalist Mehmood Shaam, KU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Lyari VC Dr Akhtar Baloch, Hamdard University VC Dr Shabib ul Hassan and in-charge of Pakistan Study Centre Dr Erum Muzaffar spoke at the event.

Dr Iraqi stressed the need of working in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam saying it was the only way to bring betterment and development to Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2020