KARACHI: With ‘Our martyrs our pride’ as this year’s theme, the 56th Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated across the country, including Karachi, on Monday with various activities (albeit small due to the Covid-19 situation), held to pay tribute to the 1965 war’s martyrs and ghazis.
Although the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) traditionally celebrates its day of victory or Air Force Day on Sept 7, 44 cadets of the PAF Asghar Khan Academy, which included four female cadets, too, assumed guard duties at the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam early in the morning.
Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Qaiser Janjua, Air Officer Commanding at the Asghar Khan Academy, was the chief guest. He laid flowers at the tomb and offered fateha.
Later, Corps Commander of Karachi Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum also visited the Mazar-i-Quaid to lay a wreath on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and offered fateha and inked his remarks in the visitor’s book.
‘Our martyrs are our heroes and peace achieved in the country is due to their sacred services’
The corps commander also laid wreaths at the graves of martyrs at Karachi’s Army graveyard. Later, he visited Captain Wasim Ud Din Razi Shaheed’s house. Captain Razi was martyred at Tirah Valley while combating militants on April 5, 2013. “Our martyrs are our heroes and peace achieved in the country is due to their sacred services,” the corps commander remarked.
Air Force
The PAF released a short duration documentary titled Main Tayyar Hoon (I am Ready) on the occasion to highlight the challenges faced by the ever ready brave men of PAF. In addition, there are also eight episodes of a show about the 1965 war with India that the PAF has been releasing daily one by one since Aug 31. There is also a national song by Ali Zafar paying tribute to the brave sons of soil in uniform.
In his message, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said that the Defence Day of Pakistan symbolises the remarkable show of unity by the nation and serves as a lasting reminder of professionalism, valour and sacrifice displayed by the armed forces of Pakistan.
“Upholding Quaid’s vision of being ‘second to none’, PAF relentlessly pursues excellence in all domains,” he said, adding that on the special day, they also salute the generations of Kashmiris who have laid down their lives fighting for freedom. “I assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters of our resolute commitment and steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support.”
Navy
Pakistan Navy also celebrated Defence Day with reverence and effervescent spirit. In his message on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammed Amjad Khan Niazi paid homage to the martyrs and ghazis who remained undeterred by the size of the enemy and foiled its nefarious designs with grit, courage and honour.
“On this day, the nation acknowledges sacrifices of its gallant and resilient soldiers, sailors and airmen who defended the ideological and geographical frontiers of their motherland,” he said in his message.
Special prayers were offered in all the naval mosques for the preservation of integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan. Quran Khwani was also held for the eternal peace of the martyrs of the 1965 war.
The chief of the naval staff also laid a wreath and offered fateha at Shuhada monument at Naval Headquarters Islamabad.
All ships and establishments of the Pakistan Navy were also decorated and illuminated in accordance with naval traditions.
Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021