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KARACHI / LARKANA: Celebrations, featuring public rallies in streets and seminars, declamation contests and musical shows, continued for a third consecutive day, Sunday, across Sindh, to mark the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq — Victory Day — with patriotic fervour.
Apart from the public shows of solidarity with the Pakistan Armed Forces to defend the motherland, the Pakistan Navy held a dignified ceremony at PN Dockyard.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah graced the occasion as the chief guest and laid wreath at the ‘Shuhada Monument’. Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, Commander Karachi, in his welcome address, paid tribute to the martyrs and lauded the contributions of the country’s armed forces in defending sovereignty of the motherland.
A special message from the Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was also read out during the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, CM Shah acknowledged the courage, professionalism and sacrifices of the armed forces, and said that the Marka-i-Haq stood as a symbol of national unity and military excellence.
The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, senior government and tri-services officials, members of the business community, various dignitaries and a large number of civilians from all walks of life.
Separately, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon congratulated the nation on the first anniversary of the Marka-i-Haq.
In his statement issued on Sunday, he said that “a year ago, Pakistan erased India’s arrogance and aggression”, adding that Marka-i-Haq was not merely a war, but a story of the nation’s unity, courage and love for Pakistan.
He said that the courage, perseverance and unity demonstrated by the nation a year ago would be written in golden letters in history.
Marka-i-Haq proved that no power in the world could cast an evil eye on Pakistan, he said.
The senior minister said that soldiers of the armed forces had always sacrificed their lives to make the defence of the beloved homeland invincible, and that the sacrifices of our martyrs and ghazis would never be forgotten.
He said that for the security and national dignity of Pakistan, the entire nation stood united like a lead wall.
“The Sindh government and the Pakistan Peoples Party have always played an important role in the country’s security, democracy and welfare. The struggle of Shaheed [Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi [Benazir Bhutto] for the defence and welfare of the country remains a beacon of light for the people,” he said.
Memon said that peace, development, tolerance and brotherhood must be promoted in the country while keeping the spirit of the Marka-i-Haq alive.
In Larkana, a colourful ceremony was held at the Police Training School on Saturday night to mark the Victory Day anniversary.
The event, hosted by former Sindh home minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, was organised as a show of solidarity with the Pakistan Armed Forces.
The ceremony was attended by MPAs Jamil Ahmed Soomro and Adil Altaf Unnar, besides Sindh government spokesman Buland Khan Junejo and PPP Bakrani taluka president Tariq Anwar Siyal, Chairman Dari Town Shah Rukh Anwar Siyal, CM’s Special Assistant Khair Mohammad Sheikh, Larkana District Council Chairman Aijaz Ahmed Laghari, Mayor Advocate Anwar Ali Luhur and a large number of PPP leaders, workers and ordinary citizens.
The event commenced with the national anthem, followed by a spectacular display of fireworks. Renowned artists, including Hadiqa Kiani, Sahir Baga, Ahmed Mughal, Tahsin Sakeena, Farzana Bahar and the Bugti Brothers presented patriotic songs and cultural compositions in Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi and other languages, captivating the audience.
The audience waved national flags and chanted slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Pak Army Zindabad’.
Schoolchildren presented tableaux and gave a dance performance on patriotic songs, to receive enthusiastic applause.
Addressing the gathering, Suhail Anwar Siyal praised Field Marshal General Asim Munir, stating that under the supreme leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan Army had achieved a glorious victory in the Pakistan-India war, raising the nation’s dignity across the world.
He noted that Gen Asim Munir also accomplished a historic diplomatic feat by bringing the US and Iran to the same table for a ceasefire for the first time in 47 years, demonstrating that Pakistan and its armed forces lead the world in peace-making as well.
He added that following the war on May 9, the unity of the Pakistan Army, Air Force, Navy and the Pakistani public elevated Pakistan’s standing globally.
Separately, a grand ceremony and musical night was organised at a private housing society in Larkana on Saturday night to mark the Marka-i-Haq anniversary.
Hosted by PML-Functional leader Moazzam Ali Abbasi, the event brought together a large number of party leaders, workers and citizens. Prominent among them were PML-F leader Syed Muhammad Rashid Shah Rashdi, GDA Secretary General Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi, Barrister Kazim Ali Abbasi, Mir Muzaffar Brohi, Muhammad Ali Hakro and several other senior figures.
The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, which was followed by electrifying performances by renowned artists, including Sanam Marvi and Humaira Channa, comedians Asghar Khoso and Ali Gul Mallah, as well as folk artists Sajid and Wahid Bakhsh, all of whom received tremendous applause from the audience.
Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026
