- President Mamnoon Hussain says operation against terrorism will be taken to logical end, as military shows muscle at Republic Day parade
- Mamnoon says armed forces fully equipped to foil evil designs of anti-state elements
The 76th Pakistan Day was celebrated with zeal and fervor across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday, as Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain reaffirmed the country’s resolve to take the military operation against terrorism to its logical conclusion.
Addressing the Pakistan Day Parade ceremony at Parade Avenue Shakarparian, Mamnoon said the operation against terrorists has entered its final phase in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
“Our destination is the end of lawlessness and terrorism from all parts of the country,” he said, adding that the enemies of Pakistan will not be allowed to cast an evil eye on the country as its armed forces are fully equipped to foil their designs with iron resolve.
President Mamnoon said Pakistan’s weaponry is only for the defense and security of the country. “We have never indulged in the arms race but for the defence of the country, the requirements of the armed forces will be fully met.”
He said Pakistan is a peace loving country and has contributed troops for the UN peacekeeping missions in different countries of the world many times. He said Pakistan will continue to play its role to free the world of the scourge of terrorism.
The president said Pakistan desires cordial relations with all the countries, especially its neighbours. However, he said, this desire should not be misconstrued as weakness.
The president said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of this longstanding dispute. He reiterated that Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people while they struggle for their right to self-determination.
PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS:
On Wednesday, the day began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered in mosques for the prosperity of the country. The traditional military parade was held at the Parade Ground near the landmark Shakarparian hills in Islamabad.
The ceremony of Pakistan Day parade kicked off with a splendid fly past of aircraft of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy led by Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman. The formations of F-16, JF-17 thunder, Mirage, F-7PG AWACs, P-3C Orion presented salute to the chief guest by flying over the dais.
Different regiments of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Rangers, police, SSG and girl guides marched past the dais, presenting salute to President Mamnoon Hussain.
Mechanised columns including tanks, rocket launchers, indigenously developed short and long-range missiles, radars and unmanned aerial vehicles were showcased at the parade. Floats depicting culture of the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan were also part of the parade.
The skydivers of Special Services Groups (SSG) presented heart touching and thrilling free fall from ten thousand feet while carrying the national flags and those of the three services.
The ceremony culminated with presentation of national songs by the students of different schools. On the occasion, the president, prime minister and army chief mingled with the students attired in different regional clothes.
President Mamnoon Hussain was the chief guest while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the services chiefs witnessed the parade.
Ambassadors of different countries and federal ministers were also present in the parade ground.
Various political, social, religious, and literary organisations organised events to highlight the importance of the Pakistan Resolution that paved the way for the creation of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
Photo exhibitions were arranged at the arts galleries in different cities depicting different aspects of the independence movement and photographs of the founding fathers.
Foolproof security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incident, and a special traffic plan was chalked out for the day in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Pakistan Day is also being celebrated at United Nations for the first time with a concert planned in the prestigious General Assembly hall, organised by the Pakistan mission to the UN. The concert features Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Titled Sufi Night: Music of Peace, it is aimed at spreading the message of peace and harmony in the world.
A similar change of guard ceremony was held at Mazar e Iqbal in Lahore.A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Air Force took charge of guards’ duty from Punjab Rangers.
Base Commander of PAF Base Lahore, Air Commodore Salman Mehboob was the chief guest at the occasion. He laid floral wreath over the grave of national poet and offered fateha.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratual Ebad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah along with members of the Sindh cabinet visited Mazaar Quaid and laid floral wreath and offered fateha.
We, at US CENTCOM, wish the people of Pakistan a very Happy Resolution Day. The people of Pakistan have sacrificed a lot to build a strong independent nation. In the recent past, people of Pakistan have been challenged by terrorism and religious extremism. In its quest for peace, we stand with Pakistan as it navigates the troubled waters of terrorism that has plagued the region for long and wish them a peaceful and prosperous future.
Abdul Quddus
DET – U.S. Central Command
“Our destination is the end of lawlessness and terrorism from all parts of the country,” he said, adding that the enemies of Pakistan will not be allowed to cast an evil eye on the country as its armed forces are fully equipped to foil their designs with iron resolve.
But will continue to harbour those 'so-called good terrorist' that do harm to our neighbors and not us! got left out from his sermon!
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