Quaid’s 136th birth anniversary

The nation on Tuesday celebrated with full enthusiasm the 136th birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the city.
A change of guard ceremony was held in the city where a fresh contingent of cadets of Pakistan Army shouldered the responsibility of guard duty at the Quaid’s mausoleum replacing Pakistan Air Force.
Military band sang national anthem and alert cadets of Pakistan Military Academy Kakool led by Major Shuja Ali marched.
The guest of honour Major General Sadiq Ali also watched the parade. The guards saluted the guest of honour.
This was followed by the laying of floral wreaths by representatives of the armed services.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also visited the mausoleum after the change of guard.
The government has declared the day a national holiday.
Special ceremonies were scheduled to be held across the country to shed light on the Quaid’s struggle for the creation of Pakistan and to highlight his guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline.
A large number of people in the city also visited the mausoleum to pay tribute to the father of the nation.
A number of programmes were chalked out to highlight the guiding principles of unity‚ faith and discipline of Quaid-i-Azam.
In their messages on the occasion, the president and the prime minister urged the nation to forge unity in their ranks and rededicate themselves to ideals and principles upheld by the father of the nation.
In his message‚ President Asif Ali Zardari said the Quaid’s birthday is an occasion to reiterate the resolve to defeat dark forces in seeking to undermine the nation’s founding principles.
He said let us pledge today to eliminate the menace of extremism and militancy working against democracy‚ constitutionalism and rule of law.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in his message urged the people to work for the progress and prosperity of the country by rising above religious and sectarian differences. He said the PPP government will make Pakistan a welfare state free from all sorts of exploitation.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari visited the mausoleum of Qauid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to pay his tributes to the father of the nation whose vision and untiring efforts culminated into the creation of Pakistan.
The president laid floral wreath on the mazar of Quaid-e-Azam and offered fateha for the departed soul of the great leader.