Independence Day: ADC to Quaid-i-Azam graces RAC ceremony

Rallies, flag hoisting ceremonies, fun fare mark the day

RAWALPINDI: The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated on Tuesday with full zeal and enthusiasm amid tight security arrangements as 2,000 policemen were deployed in the city.

The main flag hoisting ceremony of Rawalpindi Division was held at the auditorium of Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) where ADC to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Col (retd) Zahoor Akhtar Kiyani was the chief guest.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Saif Anjum, Mayor Sardar Naseem, Regional Police Officer Fayyaz Ahmed, DC Umer Jahangir, Additional Commissioner Tariq Salam Marwat, City Police Officer Abbas Ahsan and Resident Director RAC Waqar Ahmed attended the ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by district and police officers, notables, members of Christian and Sikh communities, transgender people, school children and the people belonging to various walks of life.

At the Lahore High Court (LHC), Rawalpindi Bench. Senior Judge Ibadur Rehman Lodhi and Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf hoisted the national flag.

A contingent of the Punjab Police presented the guard of honor. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Flag Hoisting Ceremony was held at Flashman's Hotel.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zahid Latif Khan hoisted the flage at the chamber. Senior Vice President Nasir Mirza, Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, former president Sohail Altaf, members of the executive committee and a large number of traders attended the ceremony.

Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) organized a flag hoisting ceremony at ANF headquarters to celebrate Independence Day with full enthusiasm.

A flag hoisting and cake cutting ceremony was organised by district police at Police Lines, Headquarters. SP Headquarters Ali Raza hoisted the national flag. Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) and Pir Mehr Ali Shah- Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi also organized programmes to celebrate the day.

Elaborate security arrangements were made and around 500 police personnel were also deployed in Murree which was thronged by thousands of visitors from across the country.

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