The nation celebrated Independence Day across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday with national zeal, enthusiasm, and a renewed pledge to uphold the spirit of the Pakistan Movement and build the country into a true welfare state.
This year's celebrations also marked Pakistan's victory over India in the Marka-e-Haq in May. On the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred awards on military commanders and officials in recognition of their services during the four-day conflict.
The day dawned with 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in each of the four provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for peace, solidarity, and prosperity of the country.
The main flag hoisting ceremony was held at Pakistan Monument where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoisted the national flag. Similar ceremonies were held in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and other big and small cities and towns.
In a message, President Zardari said that nation celebrated the Independence Day with a sense of renewed pride and hope as recently the nation had reaffirmed its strength, resolve, and unity in the face of external aggression.
"Our success in Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos is a landmark moment in our history. It was a demonstration of unshakable national will, professional excellence, and united purpose," the president said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his sincere invitation to all political parties and segments of the society to join hands with them in strengthening their resolve to safeguard the national interests.
"In this way, we can collectively make our nation successful and prosper to help realise the dream of our forefathers and martyrs, which they had envisioned in the form of establishment of Pakistan."
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Governor Kamran Khan Tessori paid a visit to the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on the Independence Day Marka-e-Haq celebrations.
An impressive change of guard ceremony was held at mausoleum of 'Muffakir-e-Pakistan' Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Acting Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan also visited Iqbal's mausoleum, laid a wreath and offered Fateha.
A dignified flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Governor House, Peshawar, on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, with Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi performing the flag hoisting.
In Balochistan, flag hoisting ceremony was held in Quetta where Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti along with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai hoisted the National Flag.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq hoisted the flag at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad. The main event in Gilgit Baltistan took place at Chinar Bagh, where Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Home Affairs Shams Lone hoisted the national flag, laid floral wreaths at the Martyrs' Monument and offered Fateha.
Heroes honoured
Later in the day, President Zardari conferred top civil and military awards on national leaders, military commanders and government officials in recognition of their services during Marka-e-Haq at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir received the Hilal-e-Jurat for leading Pakistan Army from the front and formulating war strategy, while Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, were conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, and DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik was awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat.
Director General Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan Major General Kashif Abdullah, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, and Rear Admiral Shahzad Hamid received the Tamgha-e-Basalat.
Among the political leadership, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Head of Parliamentary Diplomatic Committee, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and the PM's adviser Rana Sanaullah were presented Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, ministers and parliamentarians Ahsan Iqbal, Sherry Rehman, Faisal Sabzwari, Musadik Malik, and Hina Rabbani Khar, along with Tariq Fatemi and Khurram Dastgir Khan, were also decorated with top civil awards.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar received Nishan-e-Imtiaz for effectively projecting Pakistan's national narrative internationally during the escalation, countering Indian propaganda and ensuring a coordinated civil-military information strategy.
The president conferred military awards on officers, soldiers of armed forces for their conspicuous courage and supreme sacrifice rendered during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
The military awards included eight Sitara-i-Jurat, five Tamgha-i-Jurat, 24 Sitara-i-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards and one Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military), said a news release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
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