SWABI/CHARSADDA/MOHMAND: Rallies and other events were held here on Tuesday to mark the Defence Day.
Major-General Umar Bashir laid a wreath on the grave of Nishan-i-Haider recipient Captain Karnal Sher Khan in his village in Razaar tehsil of Swabi district and offered Fateha for him.
A Pakistan Army contingent presented a guard of honour at the mausoleum of the 1999 Kargil war hero, whose brother Anwar Sher was also in attendance.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists staged a rally at the Karnal Sher Chowk and paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Mayors of four tehsil councils participated in the rally, which began at the general bus stand and ended at the intersection.
The participants carried placards and banners with slogans for the Pakistan Army and said the entire Pakistani nation stood with its gallant army in the fight against anti-state elements.
Razaar tehsil mayor Ghulam Haqqani said Pakistanis won’t allow anyone to destabilise the country.
He urged the people to unite to foil the enemy’s designs to harm the country.
A Defence Day rally was staged in Charsadda.
A private organisation, Nojawanan-i-Pakistan, organised the event, which was attended by its office-bearers and schoolchildren, who marched from outside the Shabqadar Post Office to the main chowk.
The participants held national flags and banners carrying slogans for and pictures of martyred soldiers.
Nojawanan-i-Pakistan president Irfan Alam said the entire nation paid homage to the Pakistan Army’s officials, who embraced martyrdom in the Sept 6, 1965, war against India.
Also, a Defence Day function was held at the Jirga Hall in Ghalanai area of Mohmand tribal district on Tuesday.
Deputy commissioner Arifullah Awan, MNA Sajid Khan Mohmand, senior administration officials, elders, family members of fallen security men and people from other walks of life attended the event.
The DC and the MNA highlighted the sacrifices of armed forces for their homeland. They said security forces and tribesmen rendered their lives to defend the country.
Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2022