By Matthias Samuel
The whole nation observed the Defence and Martyrs Day on Friday, reaching out to the families of martyrs to pay glowing tributes to them for rendering their lives for peace and defense of Pakistan.
The Defence Day is annually observed across Pakistan on September 6 to commemorate that Day in 1965 when Indian troops crossed the International Border to launch an attack on Pakistan but its forces successfully thwarted the attack.
It also reminds the entire nation of the sacrifices rendered by Pakistani soldiers in defending the Country’s borders in 1964 war.
However since two years, now the Defence Day has been coupled with Martyrs Day.
Defence and Martyrs Day 6 Sep 2019. Like last year, let’s reach out to families of our shaheeds. Every shaheed be remembered.
یوم دفاع و شہدا 6 ستمبر 2019۔ پچھلے سال کی طرح آئیں ہر شہید کے گھر چلیں۔
ہر شہید کو یاد رکھا جائے۔#آئیں_چلیں_شہید_کے_گھر#کشمیر_بنے_گا_پاکستان pic.twitter.com/Cy7iBrBp3E— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 3, 2019
Like the previous year, this year as well the people from all walks of life including military & government officials and politicians visited graves of martyrs. They laid floral wreaths at graves of martyrs and offered Fateha.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also laid the floral wreath at the Martyrs Monument in the Main Ceremony held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi today in connection with Defense and Martyrs Day. The bereaved families of the martyrs also attended the Ceremony.
The government and opposition leadership also visited the residences of martyrs and met their families.
President Dr Arif Alvi along with First Lady Samina Alvi visited the residence of Martyred Captain Muhammad Al Husnain Nawaz in Islamabad and met his family.
In his remarks on the occasion, the president said that the entire nation salutes to the martyrs and their families.
“اسلام آباد”
صدرمملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کی شہید کیپٹن محمد الحسنین نواز کے گھر آمد،صدرمملکت کی شہید کے اہل خانہ سے ملاقات،
پوری قوم شہداء اور ان کے اہل خانہ کو سلام پیش کرتی ہے، صدر مملکت
شہداء نے اپنی جان کی قربانی دے کر دشمن کے ناپاک عزائم کو خاک میں ملا دیا، صدر مملکت
/1 pic.twitter.com/HXGt6EVzUq— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 6, 2019
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also visited the residence of Shaheed Captain Junaid Irfan in Rawalpindi wherein he met his family and said that the entire nation is proud of its martyrs who gave their lives for a better future of the Country.
The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan visited the residences of Shaheed Lieutenant Arsalan Alam in Rawalpindi and paid tributes to the martyr for rendering his life for the security of the homeland.
The Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar visited the residence of Lance Naik Taimur Aslam Shaheed and paid rich tribute to martyrs for their sacrifices for the Country.
Separately, the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahbaz Sharif also visited the family of Lance Naik Taimur Aslam Shaheed.
Visited the family of Lance naik Shaheed Taimur Aslam today who was martyred couple of weeks ago at LoC. This is his 6 months old beautiful daughter who can never see her father again. May God bless her and his family. We can’t thank our shuhada enough for their great sacrifices! pic.twitter.com/iy8VrCggbO
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 6, 2019
The Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah met the mother and other family members of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) at their residence at DHA in Karachi.
Murad Ali Shah spent some time with them and saw photographs of Rashid Minhas Shaheed.
Karachi: (September 6th, 2019) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah sees photographs of Rashid Minhas Shaheed at his residence which he visited on Friday. pic.twitter.com/hPNMx0Ir9P
— CMHouseSindh (@SindhCMHouse) September 6, 2019
The PML-N leaders including Ahsan Iqbal, Maryam Aurangzeb and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry visited the grave of Colonel Sohail Abid Shaheed. They laid the floral wreath at his grave and offered Fateha. They also met Colonel Sohail Abid Shaheed’s brother and other family memers.
Pakistan former Captain Shahid Afridi marked “Defence and Martyrs Day” by paying visit to the family of Marium Mukhtiar, a martyred pilot of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
Defence Day is a special day for all Pakistanis. I marked the day with a visit to PAF Pilot Shaheed Marium Mukhtiar’s home. May Allah bless her soul, it was an amazing experience to hear about her bravery and courage, she will always be remembered. Pakistan Zindabad! pic.twitter.com/RsJerPZ72z
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 6, 2019
