The funeral prayer for seven-year-old Irtaza Abbas Turi, son of Lieutenant Colonel Zaheer Abbas Turi, who was martyred in Dawarandi, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, due to unprovoked Indian cross-border aggression, was solemnly held in Islamabad on Wednesday, the military's media wing reported.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the ceremony was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf; along with a number of senior serving and retired military officers, government and civilian officials, soldiers, and relatives of the martyr.
Following the funeral prayers, the PM condemned India’s unprovoked aggression, stating that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, is a reprehensible act of cowardice. He emphasised that such reckless acts reflect the aggressive and hubristic mindset of the Indian government, posing a grave threat to regional and global peace, the statement maintained.
The president and the PM affirmed that the valiant Armed Forces of Pakistan are resolutely confronting Indian forces across all fronts, delivering a strong and uncompromising response. They reiterated that these blatant violations of international law and humanitarian norms will be met with decisive action, it added.
“May Allah grant eternal peace to the departed souls of this cruel act of aggression by India and bestow strength upon their families to bear this irreparable loss. Ameen,” the president and the PM prayed.
In a press briefing earlier in the day, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the Indian airstrikes had killed 26 civilians and injured 46 others. He noted that India targeted areas in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Muridke, and Ahmedpur Sharqia.
The military spokesperson said that Pakistani forces responded by shooting down five Indian fighter jets and one drone. “India’s misunderstanding will be corrected,” he said, vowing that any future aggression would be met with full force.
Meanwhile, the National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday authorised the armed forces of Pakistan to undertake corresponding actions in response to Indian airstrikes that targeted multiple civilian areas.
The NSC statement comes in the aftermath of coordinated missile, air, and drone strikes launched by the Indian armed forces during the night of May 6–7.
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