KARACHI: Several million jubilant men, women and children took part in uncountable rallies, demonstrations and other events held across Sindh on Friday to observe Youm-i-Tashakur (Thanksgiving Day) on Pakistan’s triumph in a just a few hours-long counter strikes in India on May 11.

The counter-strikes by the Pakistan armed forces were carried out under ‘Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos’ after several days of missile and drone attacks by the Indian forces from across the border in which many civilians were martyred and many others were wounded. Mosques, seminaries and schools, besides Pakistan’s airbases, were targeted in the unprovoked Indian aggression.

On Pakistan’s thumping victory widely acknowledged in the world, the entire nation observed Thanksgiving Day with people from all walks of life taking part in widespread rallies and other events held across the country.

In Karachi, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori visited the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, where he offered fateha and recorded his impressions in the visitors’ book.

Accompanied by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and opposition leaders, the governor told the media that such occasions strengthened realisation of the value of independence.

He lauded the timely and powerful response by Pakistan’s armed forces to the invading forces, saying that India’s ambitions were crushed by Pakistan’s resilience and military strategy under the leadership of Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir.

At the Sindh Secretariat, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah hoisted the national flag at a special ceremony, which was attended by provincial ministers and government officials. The atmosphere reverberated with slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ when the flag was hoisted. The CM reaffirmed Pakistani nation’s support for the cause of Kashmir.

Elsewhere in the metropolis, jubilant teachers and students took out rallies from their respective educational institutions and marched on roads and in streets while people from all walks of life assembled outsides mosques and at roundabouts raising slogans of ‘Long Live Pakistan’ and ‘Long Live Pakistan Army’.

Those leading the rallies paid rich tributes to the armed forces’ valour and homage to all those soldiers and civilians who kissed martyrdom in the cross-border attacks. Special prayers were offered for those who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi also led a rally. Addressing the participants, he appreciated the strategic brilliance of the armed forces. He said Pakistan rejected any compromise on its water rights. The rally participants expressed their heartfelt gratitude to and solidarity with the armed forces.

The University of Karachi observed the Thanksgiving Day by holding a ceremony, attended by its faculty, students and staff. Acting VC Dr Musarrat Jahan Yousuf described the armed forces’ victory as a reflection of national resilience. Special prayers were offered at the ceremony for the martyrs.

Karachi Metropolitan University held a similar ceremony to celebrate Pakistan’s historic victory in the battle against India.

Another impressive ceremony was organised by the Karachi police which featured a ceremonial salute to the Pakistan Army. Senior officers paid homage to the martyrs and reaffirmed their full support for the armed forces, calling the victory a shared triumph of the entire nation.

In Hyderabad division, the Thanksgiving Day was observed by thousands of people who took part in many rallies held in the district and taluka headquarters as well as other cities and towns.

Employees of various departments attended a ceremony held in Hyderabad’s Circuit House. It was organised by district administration to honour bravery and sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces in response to the Indian aggression.

MNA Syed Tariq Shah Jamot, Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro, Commissioner Bilal Ahmed Memon, DIG Tariq Razak Dharejo, DC Zainul Abideen Memon, SSP Adeel Chandio, as well as government officials, teachers, students and ordinary citizens attended the ceremony.

National songs, speeches and theatrical performances were presented by students. Ceremony concluded with a solidarity rally, expressing collective national pride and unity.

Another big rally was held in the Sindh University. It was led by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman Khoumbati. The participants, carrying placards and banners, raised slogans in support of Pakistan and its armed forces. They condemned India, its BJP government and the RSS for the unprovoked invasion.

At the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), teachers, students and employees observed the Thanksgiving Day by holding a ceremony and rally. They paid rich tributes to Pakistan’s armed forces for teaching India an unforgettable lesson.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ikram Din Ujjan addressed the participants and noted that foreign experts and defence analysts also lauded the professional excellence demonstrated by Pakistan’s armed forces in countering Indian aggression.

Similar events were held at the Bilawal Medical College, Liaquat Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Thatta, and Advanced Diagnostic Centre of LUMHS in Jamshoro, Sindh Agriculture University, Tajdojam, Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage, Jamshoro, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology.

A host of events and rallies were held in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts to observe Youm-i-Tashakur.

The main gathering was held at the Larkana Commissioner office after a flag hoisting ceremony. Commissioner Tahir Hussain Sangi addressed the ceremony, which was attended by the DC, SSP, district council chairman and officers of various departments.

The commissioner also led a rally from the secretariat to the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library.

The Hindu Panchayat of Larkana district held thanksgiving gathering in the main Dharamshala and also took out a procession. The participants raised slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Pakis Army’ Zindabad.

Pakistan Peoples Party organised a grand ceremony on the Girls Degree College Road. The event was attended by MPA Jameel Ahmed Soomro, Khair Mohammad Shaikh, Mayor Advocate Anwar Ali Lohar and a large number of PPP workers.

A flat-hoisting ceremony was also held at the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University. Vice Chancellor Dr Nusrat Shah performed the flag-hoisting. A jubilation march by faculty members, administrative staff and students followed the ceremony. The Sindh culture department also held a celebration ceremony at Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library where the national flag was hoisted and speeches were made.

Scores of thanksgiving rallies were also held in Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Dadu, Umerkot, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Nushahro Feroze, Sanghar, Thatta, Sujawal and other districts.

Imran Ayub in Karachi, Mohammad Hussain Khan in Hyderabad, M.B. Kalhoro in Larkana, Waseem Shamsi in Sukkur, Qurban Ali Khushik in Dadu, Ghulam Hussain Khuwaja in Thatta, Qamaruddin Shaikh in Mirpurkhas, A.B. Arisar in Umerkot, Mohammad Hashim Khan Bhurgri in Badin and Zulfiqar Memon in Nawabshah also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2025