Hard work needed to be a sovereign state: Kayani

RAWALPINDI: The nation observed Friday as Martyrs’ Day, commemorating sacrifices rendered by soldiers who laid their lives in the ongoing battles against militants in the country.

Addressing a ceremony at the General Headquarters, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that the country’s armed forces were fully prepared to defend the country and they “have proved their mettle time and again whenever they have been tested”. “The country’s sovereignty and freedom is because of martyrs.” Therefore, he said, it has been decided to observe the day on April 30 every year. “Martyrdom is the biggest reward for Muslims. A soldier goes to the battlefield with this motivation, offering his life to Almighty Allah,” he said.

He said that over the past 63 years, Pakistan Army had sacrificed the lives of 15,000 soldiers, including 2,700 who sacrificed their lives in the war against terror. “I am proud to say that our armed forces are part of the nation and the nation is with the army.” he said. He said the Pakistan Army has always honoured the saying of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that “we have achieved independence, but we have to work hard to make Pakistan a sovereign country”.