Independence day: Hope, joy and mausoleum climbing
Ceremonies and celebrations mark August 14.
Pakistani youths climb the facade of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum on August 14. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan marked its 67th Independence day with ceremonies, celebrations and some protests across the country.
A 31 gun salute marked the start of the day in the federal capital, while a 21 gun salute was seen in all provincial capitals.
The day also saw the exchange of sweets on the Wagah border, numerous flag raising ceremonies and thousands of messages of hope and prosperity shared by ordinary citizens.
Rain throughout the country hampered celebrations, particularly in Lahore where over 70 feeders tripped at the same time. In Karachi however, the rain drenched walls of the Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum did not deter one young man from scaling the monument -- a feat reportedly never achieved without support before.
The Jamaatud Dawa chose today to mark a protest against India, burning the Indian flag in Karachi.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
END OF LIVE UPDATES
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5:43pm
A young man climbed the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum in Karachi without any support.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4:42pm
Twitter has Independence day fever too.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4:32pm
Facebook is awash with green and white today. Some popular shares below.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:45pm
Media were stopped from attending a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate Independence Day in Police Line Peshawar.
KPK district police, who were part of those who stopped media, said they had not received confirmation to let the media through.
This was the first ceremony of its kind under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was not available to hoist the flag. He gave Shaukat Ali Yousafzai permission to hoist the flag instead.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:35pm
Celebrations, along with protests continue across Pakistan. Latest set of photos below.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2:55pm
Facebook has seen a surge of Independence day related shares. Here are a few select shares from across a broad spectrum of pages:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2:32pm
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) torch Indian flags during a protest in Karachi on August 14, 2014. The protest comes at a time when skirmishes between Pakistan and India have flared across the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC).
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:49pm
Bad news for Lahore on Independence day.
Heavy rainfall has resulted in 78 electricity feeders tripping. Parts of the city are reported to be without electricity and people are stuck inside their homes because of flooding in the streets.
Areas without electricity include Garden Town and Model Town.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:45pm
Asleep for most of the morning activities on Independence day? Express News captures key moments in this video feature:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:25pm
Some photos from celebrations across Pakistan.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:15pm
At least one person was killed and more than 30 wounded in Karachi on Wednesday as hundreds of people fired guns in the air to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day.
An AFP reporter in the city witnessed heavy aerial firing after clocks struck midnight, as thousands of revellers came out onto the streets to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the creation of Pakistan.
At least 33 people were brought to Jinnah Hospital in Karachi after being wounded by stray bullets, a hospital official said.
"Our hospitals received 33 people, injured due to the aerial firing, one of them later died in the hospital," Doctor Semi Jamali told AFP.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:49am
In his August 14 speech, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif emphasised that a country can only progress with economic growth and independence.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:35am
In case you missed it, check out Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's August 14 speech.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:15am
A change of guard ceremony was held at the Mazar-e-Quaid, where Pakistan Naval Academy Commander Commodore Zahid Ilyas inspected the guard of honour, laid a floral wreath and offered prayers.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:ooam
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif raised the flag at a ceremony in Islamabad today. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was present.
[embed width ="620"]https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x133hxt_independence-day-nawaz-sharif-raises-the-flag_news[/embed]
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10:5oam
At the Wagah border, sweets were offered from the Indian Army.
[embed width ="620"]https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x133iio_august-14-sweets-exchanged-on-wagah-border_news[/embed]
A 31 gun salute marked the start of the day in the federal capital, while a 21 gun salute was seen in all provincial capitals.
The day also saw the exchange of sweets on the Wagah border, numerous flag raising ceremonies and thousands of messages of hope and prosperity shared by ordinary citizens.
Rain throughout the country hampered celebrations, particularly in Lahore where over 70 feeders tripped at the same time. In Karachi however, the rain drenched walls of the Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum did not deter one young man from scaling the monument -- a feat reportedly never achieved without support before.
The Jamaatud Dawa chose today to mark a protest against India, burning the Indian flag in Karachi.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
END OF LIVE UPDATES
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5:43pm
A young man climbed the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum in Karachi without any support.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4:42pm
Twitter has Independence day fever too.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4:32pm
Facebook is awash with green and white today. Some popular shares below.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:45pm
Media were stopped from attending a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate Independence Day in Police Line Peshawar.
KPK district police, who were part of those who stopped media, said they had not received confirmation to let the media through.
This was the first ceremony of its kind under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was not available to hoist the flag. He gave Shaukat Ali Yousafzai permission to hoist the flag instead.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:35pm
Celebrations, along with protests continue across Pakistan. Latest set of photos below.
Pakistanis waves their national flags during a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day on the Pakistan-India border at Wagah on August 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan Rangers Director General, Major General, Mian Mohammad Hilal Hussain (L) offers sweets to Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG), M F Farooqui (R) during a ceremony to celebrate Pakistan s Independence Day at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post on August 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistani youth cheers during a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day on the Pakistan-India border at Wagah on August 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
A cadet from the Pakistan Navy takes a photograph of students performing national songs during a ceremony to celebrate the country's 67th Independence Day at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi August 14, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistani Naval band members perform at the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan Muhammad, Ali Jinnah during a ceremony to mark the country s Independence Day in Karachi on August 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) shout anti-India slogans during a protest in Karachi on August 14, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) stand on a India flag during a protest in Karachi on August 14, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2:55pm
Facebook has seen a surge of Independence day related shares. Here are a few select shares from across a broad spectrum of pages:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2:32pm
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) torch Indian flags during a protest in Karachi on August 14, 2014. The protest comes at a time when skirmishes between Pakistan and India have flared across the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC).
Supporters of Pakistan's outlawed Islamic hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) torch Indian flags. PHOTO: AFP
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) shout anti-India slogans during a protest in Karachi on August 14, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:49pm
Bad news for Lahore on Independence day.
Heavy rainfall has resulted in 78 electricity feeders tripping. Parts of the city are reported to be without electricity and people are stuck inside their homes because of flooding in the streets.
Areas without electricity include Garden Town and Model Town.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:45pm
Asleep for most of the morning activities on Independence day? Express News captures key moments in this video feature:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:25pm
Some photos from celebrations across Pakistan.
Attendees wave Pakistan's national flag while singing national songs at a ceremony to celebrate the country's 67th Independence Day at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi August 14, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raises the national flag to mark the 67th Independence Day during a ceremony in Islamabad August 14, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives to attend a ceremony to mark the Pakistan's Independence Day in Islamabad on August 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:15pm
Update on last night's festivities in Karachi.
At least one person was killed and more than 30 wounded in Karachi on Wednesday as hundreds of people fired guns in the air to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day.
An AFP reporter in the city witnessed heavy aerial firing after clocks struck midnight, as thousands of revellers came out onto the streets to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the creation of Pakistan.
At least 33 people were brought to Jinnah Hospital in Karachi after being wounded by stray bullets, a hospital official said.
"Our hospitals received 33 people, injured due to the aerial firing, one of them later died in the hospital," Doctor Semi Jamali told AFP.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:49am
In his August 14 speech, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif emphasised that a country can only progress with economic growth and independence.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:35am
In case you missed it, check out Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's August 14 speech.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:15am
A change of guard ceremony was held at the Mazar-e-Quaid, where Pakistan Naval Academy Commander Commodore Zahid Ilyas inspected the guard of honour, laid a floral wreath and offered prayers.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11:ooam
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif raised the flag at a ceremony in Islamabad today. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was present.
[embed width ="620"]https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x133hxt_independence-day-nawaz-sharif-raises-the-flag_news[/embed]
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10:5oam
At the Wagah border, sweets were offered from the Indian Army.
[embed width ="620"]https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x133iio_august-14-sweets-exchanged-on-wagah-border_news[/embed]