LOWER DIR: Commander Ziaur Rahim of Pakistan Navy, a resident of Bagh Dushkhel in Talash, who was martyred in the Peshawar aircraft crash incident the other day, was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard here on Wednesday.

The martyred navy commander had joined Pakistan Air Force as a trainer to impart training to pilots. Rear Admiral Nahim Sarwar, Wing Commander R Asim, Wing Commander Hamza along with scores of Navy and PAF officials and a large number of locals participated in his funeral.

A smartly turned-out contingent of Navy presented a guard of honour and placed floral wreaths on his grave.

Two pilots including Ziaur Rahim were killed when a trainer aircraft crashed on Warsak Road in Peshawar on Tuesday. The deceased left behind a widow and three daughters.

Moving scenes were witnessed during his funeral prayer. He served in Pakistan Navy for about 16 years and had recently joined PAF as a trainer.

PAKISTAN DAY: The Pakistan Day was observed in the district with national zeal and fervour. Different functions were arranged in various public and private schools across the district to pay homage to Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The main function was held at Frontier Corps Public School and College in Balambat in collaboration with the directorate of youth affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The additional deputy commissioner, Abdul Wali Khan, district youth officer Malik Shehzad Tariq, principal Ijaz Ahmad, vice-principal Shabana Jehan, local elders and a large number of students and teachers were present on the occasion.

Schoolchildren presented speeches, Naats, tableaus, cultural dance and national songs on the occasion and got applause from the participants.

Army and Frontier Corps also held different functions at their posts across the district and observed the day with national spirit and enthusiasm.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2022