Residents of twin cities rally in support of military

Former soldier turned judge wants to return to his unit

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: As the armed forces issued a strong response to the military strike by Indian forces in Balakot the other day, a former soldier-turned judge has sought permission from the army chief to return to the armed forces and defend the homeland. His letter came as rallies and processions were held in federal capital to mark the military’s response.

Amer Habib, a district and sessions judge serving in Ahmad Pur Sial area of Jhang district wrote that he used to serve as a commissioned officer with a rank of captain in the army when he retired and joined the judiciary.

“At this time of necessity, I want to serve the nation on dual cause and want to embrace Shahadat while serving at the border,” Habib wrote

He urged Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to grant him permission to return to his old unit.

“I present myself for the cause of nation and want permission to join my unit which is in dire need of trained soldiers in this war.”

A copy of the letter was also sent to the commanding officer of the regiment.

Rallies

As news of the military’s countermeasures to India’s violation of Pakistani airspace and bombing a remote region near the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) border, a large number of people assembled on the roads of the twin cities.

Comprising students, the traders’ community, political workers, and religious groups raised slogans against India and waived the green-and-white flag high.

Union Council 44 Chairman Sheikh Mohammad Khanu distributed sweets amongst his constituents and expressed his solidarity with the Pakistani military.

Khanu said that India is living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it can destroy Pakistan. He expressed that Pakistan has full potential to respond to the Indian attacks Pakistan while the Pakistani people will stand by their army against any misadventure of India.

A rally was taken out from Raja Bazar to Liaquat Bagh Chowk which was led by trader Sharjeel Mir.  A number of traders closed their shops and participated in the rally.

The participants  chanted slogans in favour of the Pakistan military and vowed to fight alongside soldiers to thwart any Indian misadventure.

Another rally was staged by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) employees from WASA’s offices to the Rescue 15 building to express their solidarity with the army. The rally was led by WASA’s Managing Director Raja Shaukat and officials of the labour union.

They expressed their solidarity with the armed forces like the rest of the nation while any aggression from the Indian soil will be dealt with toughness.

Officials of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Youth Wing protested against the Indian aggression at Committee Chowk. They also set fire to an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chanted slogans in favour of the military.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2019.