PHOTO: FILE
"We are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day with national fervour and offering special prayers for the well-being of the country and for the people of Kashmir," said Karachi University (KU) Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi while speaking at the Independence Day ceremony in front of KU's Administration Building. "Pakistan is at a crossroads, facing a serious challenge of terrorism for which we all need to play our part as responsible citizens of the motherland," he remarked, adding that the dream of a welfare state could only be achieved if Quaid-e-Azam's guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline were followed.
He noted that Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) has been deprived of its rights as the Indian government recently scrapped Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He said that both Palestine and Kashmir were two occupied lands fighting for their rights and freedom. "Each and every teacher, student, administrative and non-teaching staff [at KU] is ready to sacrifice whatever is needed for the cause of Kashmir," said the VC adding that the whole world was witnessing what the Indian government and their military forces were doing in Kashmir. "Owing to the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the two nation theory we are living in [a] separate country but our forefathers had sacrificed their lives, properties and other valuable for this Islamic State," he said.
Earlier, the programme had commenced with recitation from the Holy Quran and Naat after which the participants observed one minute silence in solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The national flag was hoisted by the VC. The lawn in front of the Administration Building was decorated with both the Pakistani and Kashmiri flags as well as green and white balloons.
Dow University
Separately, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Ojha Campus. Amid tributes, songs and performances to commemorate the day, the issue of Kashmir was highlighted as well.
Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Qureshi said that Kashmir was part of an incomplete agenda of the partition of the Indian sub-continent. "India is inflicting violence in Kashmir and we condemn it on the national level. We demand of the international community to stop the violence by India," he said.
SSUET celebrations
Meanwhile, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) also celebrated Independence Day and paid tributes to those who laid down their lives during the struggle for Pakistan.
"We should learn lessons from the actions of our national leaders and try to follow their footsteps. Only those nations emerge as heroes which are laced with patriotic feelings and work with consistency," said the varsity's chancellor, Jawaid Anwar.
St Patrick's Cathedral
Meanwhile, Independence Day celebrations were also held at St Patrick's Cathedral. The day began with a solemn Eucharistic Mass at 7.15am in Cathedral where Vice Rector Reverend Joshua Rangel prayed for the prosperity and wellbeing of the nation.
After the Mass, people assembled in front of the Christ the King monument in the Church for the flag hoisting ceremony. This was followed by the singing of the national anthem led by the St Patrick's Urdu choir. Participants were given party poppers and crackers which added to the merriment. The programme ended with a note of thanks by Rector Reverend Mario Rodrigues and a message to work together as a community to bring peace and harmony and help the government build a Naya Pakistan.
With additional input from PPI
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2019.
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