LAHORE, Sept 6 A three-and-a-half-year-old debater cast a spell over participants in the flag-hoisting ceremony at Jinnah Hall on Defence Day on Sunday.“Let us shun sectarian differences of all kind with faith, unity and discipline in our ranks,” said Moiza Waqas who had come from Haripur to pay homage to the heroes of the 1965 war.

There was pin-drop silence in the lawns of Jinnah Hall soon after the nursery-class student uttered “Ya Rab mairay watan ko ik aisi bahar dae, Jo saray Asia ki fiza ko nikhar dae.”

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, Lahore Deputy Station Commandant Col Syed Tehseen Yazdani and Union Council 57 Nazim Raja Munawwar were the first who gave the girl a standing ovation when she concluded her three-minute speech. “Let us bow our heads before Him for blessing us with an independent country,” a confident Moiza said and left the stage amid thunderous applause.

Moiza came to Lahore with her maternal uncle. “I love to have jelly. Chocolates would be OK but do not like candies as these stick to teeth,” she told Dawn after the ceremony.

Sometimes Moiza has to take care of her younger sister, especially in the morning, when “Mama would be preparing paratha for her two brothers and as many sisters besides herself.

“I wish I could go boating in the river before entering Lahore but I have to attend my school tomorrow. The whole class would be waiting for me, particularly my best friends Noor, Narib and Mastan,” she said before leaving the Jinnah

Hall lawn for home.

Mian Amer said in his keynote speech the nation should exhibit the spirit of sacrifice displayed in the 1965 war to confront the present-day scourge of terrorism. “We are not only confronting terrorists from abroad but also bracing suicide bombers who have taken the lives of several innocent people in almost every major city and town of the country. Pakistan demands from us the same spirit of sacrifice and valour which the entire nation along with our valiant armed forces showed during the 1965 war.

“The Defence Day of Pakistan reminds us of the resolve and enthusiasm displayed by the country's armed forces along with the nation while defending their motherland during the 1965 war and to pay tribute to the martyrs and warriors.

“The courageous and brave soldiers of the armed forces defeated the numerically superior enemy, frustrated its nefarious designs and proved that the people and the armed forces of Pakistan are strong to defend every inch of its beloved homeland. “On behalf of Lahorites, I salute the gallant officers and men who have fought against terrorism in an unprecedented way,” said the nazim before hoisting Hilal-i-Istaqlal at Jinnah Hall along with Lahore Deputy Station Commandant Col Syed Tehsen Yazdani, District Coordination Officer Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta and Additional Chief Warden Illyas Khan.

Students of the city district government schools also presented national songs at the ceremony that was hosted by the DCO but he could only attend the flag hoisting.