KARACHI: Bright eyes, happy smiles with hands making victory signs and holding up shiny silk and satin Pakistan flags, which also gaily fluttering in the sea breeze, students of all the public and private universities of the city, along with their vice chancellors and deans, marched on Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue (Seaview) on Thursday morning with chants of “Pakistan Zindabad”.

They gathered there on the call of the Sindh Higher Education Commission for a ‘Solidarity Rally’ to celebrate the country’s recent victory over India and the triumph of the Pakistan armed forces.

In between the playing and singing of patriotic songs, they also aired their disappointment of not being able to offer tea to the Indian attackers as was done for another uninvited visitor from India, Abhinandan.

“We are good hosts. Didn’t Abhinanan tell them?” Ali Aun Haider, a student of Iqra University, laughingly told Dawn. “This time we were also willing to offer biscuits with our fantastic tea,” he added.

“Come again and again you’ll taste defeat, is my message to our unfriendly neighbours,” said Shahzil Abbasi of Iqra University.

Umaima Khan from Dewan University said that she only had a one-word message for the Indian Prime Minister Modi: “Rafale.”

Dua Mehdi, also from Dewan University, said she was happier paying tribute to the armed forces of Pakistan than giving much thought to the negativity being spread by India in the region. “Thanks to our brave forces, we can sleep peacefully at night,” she said.

“We are with our people; we are with our armed forces; we are a united people. Our strength and power is unmatchable,” said Muddasir Khan of Karachi University.

A student of Szabist, who declined sharing her name, said that she was happy to have been a witness to history these past couple of weeks. “I will never forget how easily we put our enemy in their place,” she smiled.

Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, Institute of Business Management, Dow University of Health Sciences, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Sir Syed University Of Engineering and Technology and students from many other universities also showed up for the Solidarity Rally.

The rally started from Nishan-i-Pakistan and concluded at Clock Tower.

Later, while addressing the rally, SHEC Chairman Prof Dr S. M. Tariq Rafi said that the world has seen how well Pakistan can defend itself against its enemies. “We, especially our country’s youth, have turned out here in huge numbers to show our love for our armed forces. All respect to them. We are very proud of our brave soldiers. Pakistan Zindabad!” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2025