Spirit of unity: Defence Day commemorated across K-P

Arms put on display in Peshawar along with performances by special military units


Our Correspondent September 07, 2018
Visitors viewing the arms ammunition put on display, during a programme at Karnal Sher Khan Stadium. PHOTO: APP

PESHAWAR: Just like in other parts of the country, the 53rd Defence Day was commemorated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to pay tribute to martyrs, of the 1965 war in particular and of other wars in general.

Different programmes were held in different departments, schools, colleges and universities to pay tribute to the martyrs.

Celebrations for Defence Day started with a 21-gun salute in the provincial capital.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shah Farman, who had taken the oath just a day before, attended a gathering in Miran Shah — the headquarters of North Waziristan District. The district, located in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata), once served as the headquarters for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

A large gathering was also held at the Karnal Sher Khan Stadium in the provincial capital. The Peshawar Corps Commander Lt General Nazir Ahmad Butt, Frontier Constabulary Commandant Liaqat Ali, government officials and civilians including women and children attended the gathering.

Similar gatherings were held across the province including the erstwhile Fata. Members of the armed forces, army aviation, air force, frontier corps paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1965 war.

Besides representatives of armed forces, family members of those who sacrificed their lives to protect the homeland were also present on the occasion.

Armed forces displayed military equipment at the stadium such as helicopters, tanks and other military equipment was displayed.

The corps commander also inspected the stalls.

People were seen flocking to the artillery equipment on display, how it identifies enemy locations but also neutralizes them.

Members of one of the elite commando unit of the army, the Special Service Group (SSG) amused the audience with a freefall demonstration with the national flag.

Personnel of the Frontier Core including the women commandos also demonstrated their skills on the occasion.

Similarly, the Civil Aviation Authority (CCA) also celebrated Defense Day at Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) Peshawar, Chitral Airport, Saidu Sharif Airport, Para Chinar and EVHF Station Laram Top.

Banners and placards, carrying pictures of martyrs were displayed at prominent places of the facility. For the first time, CAA officials at BKIA displayed pictures of CAA officers who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty at various Airports.

Ghallanai sports complex renamed after Capt Roohullah

Defence Day and “Youm-e-Shuhada” was observed in Mohmand Tribal District with traditional zeal and fervour.

Various activities were held to commemorate the day, but the highlight was renaming the Ghallanai Sports Complex after Captain Roohullah Shaheed Mohmand. The renamed complex inaugurated by his family.

Captain Roohullah Shaheed Mohmand belonged to the Kamali Halimzai area of the district and had been martyred in the Quetta police lines on October 24, 2016.

Events were held at Mohmand Rifles headquarters in Ghallanai and the Ghallanai Jirga Hall where people from different walks of life including local elders, students, scholars and families of martyrs participated.

Mohmand Rifles Commandant conveyed a message of the army chief while the Mohmand deputy commissioner said that the families of the martyrs would not be left alone.

He said that all favourable support would be extended to such families.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM MUREEB MOHMAND IN SHABQADAR 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2018.

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