Remembering 1965: Defence Day observed with pride

Punjab Rangers present guard of honour at Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum

BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN/ LAHORE: The 51st Defence Day was observed in the city with zeal and fervor on Tuesday. Several ceremonies were held to pay homage to the Pakistan Army soldiers and officers who lost their lives on the battlefront.

The day started with a 21-gun salute and special prayers for peace and prosperity of the nation.

The city district government of Lahore (CDGL) held a ceremony to hoist the Hilal-i-Istaqlal. DCO Capt (r) Muhammad Usman, Commodore SM Shahzad, Wing Commander Masood Anwar and Lt Col Usman Riaz were the guests of honour. Lahore DO (Civil Defence) Sadaqat Malik, EDOs, town municipal officers, town administrators, civil defence volunteers and school children attended the ceremony.

The ceremony started with a siren followed by silence for a minute. Afterwards, national anthem was played and Hilal-i-Istaqlal hoisted at the event. It also featured a parade by Civil Defence volunteers and performance of national songs by school children.

Speaking on the occasion, Usman said that on September 6, 1965, Pakistan’s Armed Forces had defended the country’s frontiers and upheld its sovereignty with the help of its people.

He said the nation would never forget the sacrifices of the soldiers and officers who lost their lives on the battlefront.

Usman said Indian Armed Forces had violated the international border on September 6, 1965, but Pakistani soldiers had frustrated their designs.

Separately, the Punjab Rangers presented a guard of honour at the mausoleum of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major Gen Sardar Tariq Aman and Brigadier Asim Gardezi laid floral wreath at the mausoleum and offered fateha for the national poet.

Pakistan Army arranged a special event to mark the day at Fortress Stadium. Later, a guard of honour was presented at Major Shabbir Sharif’s grave at the Miani Sahib graveyard.

In Bahawalpur, a ceremony was held at the Bahawalpur Press Club to remember the martyrs of the 1965 war. Major (r) Basheer Ahmad, who fought in 1965 and 1971 wars, was the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Major (r) Muhammad Mukhtiar said that alongside protection of the country’s physical boundaries there was also a need to guard the ideological frontiers.

Defence day ceremonies were also held in other cities.

An exhibition of weapons and equipment possessed by the Armed Forces was held at the Ayub Stadium, Multan. It was inaugurated by Garrison Commander Major General Muhammad Arif. Scores of families visited the exhibition. The visitors took keen interest in a radar system, mortar guns, tanks and cobra helicopters displayed at the stadium.

A statement released by the ISPR said that various national songs were played at the event to entertain the visitors. Munazah, one of the visitors, said that the exhibition served educational and entertainment purposes at the same time. Hafiz Waqar, a student, praised the organisers of the event and said that they had done a great job in showcasing military hardware and weapons.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, a prayers ceremony was held to mark the day. DCO Nadeemur Rehman and DPO Ata Muhammad were present on the occasion. They vowed to offer any sacrifice for protection of the county. They said if needed the nation would fight with the same passion and fervor with which it fought in 1965.

In a statement to the press, Mohtarma Amrana Kaneez Fatima, chairwoman and founder of the Amrana Kaneez Welfare Foundation, shared her personal experiences from the days of the 1965 war. She said she had been a member of the Girl Guide’s movement and had visited the Red Cross office twice to donate blood. She said she had also attended training in the use of rifles and made several visits to the border areas to participate in war rehabilitation efforts. She urged the youth to be prepared all the time to defend the country’s frontiers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2016.