With traditional zeal: Independence Day joyously celebrated in K-P

Sikh community cuts cake in Jogan Shah while orphans arrange ceremony at Darul Atfal

PESHAWAR: The 72nd Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with fervour across the city to commemorate Pakistan's freedom struggle.

On the day flag hoisting ceremonies along with cultural programmes were held in governmental and non-governmental institutions throughout the day.

Sikh community marks independence day

Like in the past, this year too the Sikh community celebrated Independence Day.

Community members gathered at Jogan Shah as per tradition and cut a ceremonial cake to celebrate the day.



Dressed in traditional garbs and sporting the national green and white colours. They also sang national songs and congratulated each other.

Led by Babaji Guru Gurpal Singh and other elders of the community, the Sikh started thronging to Mohallah Jogan Shah — a historical locality of the city —from different parts of the city where preparations were underway for the celebration.

Sikh youth, last year held a motorbike rally as part of independence celebrations.  But that plan was changed owing to the road situation in the provincial capital.



All lit up

Meanwhile, all government buildings in the city were specially illuminated to celebrate Independence Day.

Buildings of private businesses and homes were also decorated with lights. The festive occasion was also celebrated with fireworks, face paintings and loud music in the marketplaces until late at night.

In their celebrations, youngsters also gathered outside the illuminated Bala Hissar Fort to celebrate. However, officials denied them access to the historical and protected structure.

Traditional festivities

Earlier, the day began with 21 gun salute in the provincial headquarters which was followed by prayers for peace and stability of the country.

National flag hoisting ceremonies were held at all important public and private buildings.

With the newly elected assembly yet to vote for a chief minister, Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retired) Dost Muhammad Khan hoisted the national flag at the civil secretariat. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra conducted a similar ceremony at the Governor House.

Both ceremonies were attended by a large number of people.

The K-P police hoisted the national flag at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police lines where CCPO Qazi Jamilur Rahman cut the ceremonial cake and hoisted the national flag.

The CCPO in his address said that the police force has offered high sacrifices and are always ready to offer any sacrifice for its protection.

“All forces have offered tremendous sacrifices and defended the country with their blood,” said Interim Chief Minister Justice Dost while addressing the gathering.

Justice Dost added that everyone in this country has a responsibility to serve the country and put the national interest over their personal interests.

A ceremony was also held at the Peshawar High Court where Chief justice Waqar Ahmad Seth hoisted the national flag. A police contingent presented a guard of honour while the police band also played the national anthem.  The ceremony was also attended by all serving and former Judges, the Registrar, officers and other staff of PHC.

Justice Seth reiterated a message from the father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and stressed upon the need for hard work, punctuality and sincerity for progress and prosperity of the country.

Women lawyers also organised a separate event at the PHC to celebrate the national day.

Independence Day at SVBBWU

Students and faculty at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar (SBBWUP) marked Independence Day with great zeal and fervour on Tuesday.

The event started with the flag hoisting ceremony by SBBWUP Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Razia Sultana.

Various skits and national songs and speeches were presented by the students of SBBWUP related to Independence Day. Later a cake cutting ceremony also took place.

Laptops under the prime minister’s scheme were also distributed among different deserving students of bachelors and masters programmes.

Prof Sultana said that this day is a story of sacrifice and struggle. She said that universities are meant to produce future leaders. She termed education and training as the two main components for producing leaders.



Orphans cut cake

A unique Independence Day celebration was observed at the Darul Atfal orphanage where orphans raised Rs7,000 from their own resources to purchase the Pakistani flag and a cake to celebrate the day.

Around 58 children in the orphanage receive Rs30  per day for their daily travel to school and other necessities. However, for the past month, these orphans collected around half of their pocket money to arrange a ceremony for independence day.

The students decorated the orphanage with Pakistan flags and holding flags while cutting the cake and celebrate the day with great zeal like other Pakistani.

Hassan Ali, an orphan at the Darul Atfal, told The Express Tribune that they too were Pakistani and were celebrating Independence Day.

About the cake, he said that they had collected money from their daily routine to purchase the cake.

“My sister and I  were six months old when someone left us at the door of this orphanage,” Ali shared. He said that today he was 16-years-of-age while his sister had been married.

Yasmin Begum, the orphanage’s administrator, said that she was happy to see how the children were celebrating Independence Day, collecting money, wearing new suits and decorating the whole house with Pakistani flags.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2018.