Daily Times

With the continued blessings of Almighty Allah, the living nation is celebrating another Youm-e-Takbir signifying Pakistan’s becoming a nuclear power and thus attaining a strong defence deterrent. It was on May 28,1998 that Pakistan had become the first nuclear power of the Islamic world and 7th in the world on the whole after USA, Russian Federation (formerly Soviet Union), Britain, France, China and India.

This is indeed another anniversary of a great historic development and every Pakistan is quite obviously genuinely proud irrespective of his/her political affiliations, regional and other petty and vested interests and considerations.

This year, Youm-e-Takbir is being celebrating in a different background. Pakistan’s relations with neighbouring country not only remain tense but the two countries were also verge of a nuclear war after India violated our air space on February 27, 2019 and our ever energetic, alert and ready Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian fighter aircrafts, arrested one pilot as the other aircraft had fell in occupied Kashmir and released him after couple of days as a gesture of goodwill.

This aggressive misadventure was committed by India as Prime Minister Nirendra Modi was all determined to ensure return to power of political party in the general election held in phases in April and May 2019 by hyping anti-Pakistan hatred like many of his predecessors. Not only Indian aggression was beaten back but this had brought civil, political and military leadership of the country on one page and the people had renewed their pledge to defend and safeguard solidarity, sovereignty and security of their motherland at all costs by offering even last drop of their blood . The nation always rises to the occasion in the face of any foreign aggression or threat brushing aside all internal differences whatsoever.

Not only the Indian Prime Minister had sent his aircrafts twice within couple of days, for the first the invaders had rushed back after PAF aircrafts chased them and second time it was a different fate waiting for the invaders as two air crafts were shot down in a prompt and vigilant armed forces of the country.

India also continues to resorting to indiscriminate firing across Line of Control (LoC) killing innocent civilians including men, women and children besides unleashing brutalities and atrocities through its huge occupying security forces on unarmed Kashmiris who are continuing their indigenous struggle for securing their fundamental right of self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and also patronizing and promoting subversive terrorist activities in different parts of Pakistan. But every time the hostile aggressive forces ,in whatever form they may be coming, get quite befitting response as Pakistan Armed Forces Chiefs have time and again come out with positive equal response and sounded warning India of being given a befitting response n case of any adventurism on land, air or sea.

Despite Pakistan also being a nuclear power it is showing utmost restraint in the continued prevailing tense circumstances, fully seized of safeguarding and ensuring national security and fence. All these years, Pakistan has been telling the world at large that its nuclear assets are for minimum defence deterrent and peaceful purposes and ensuring balance of power in the region as well as in safe hands as an effective control and command system is in place.

Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy state of preparedness for the safeguarding the territorial and geographical frontiers of the motherland and launching of series of operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul Fassad , terrorists, militants and extremists and their facilitators have been eliminated to a great extent. Operation Raddul Fassad is still continuing as the terrorists, militants and extremists keep entering Pakistan from across the borders and carrying out their nefarious activities at the behest of their foreign masters.

A strong defence system coupled with its being a nuclear power is helping the government in defeating hostile elements and continuing its onward journey on the path of progress, development and prosperity in a determined and committed manner.

It is pertinent to mention here briefly as to who had made Pakistan an atomic power in response to India’s becoming a nuclear power and continuing aggressive and threatening postures.

India had become 6th nuclear power of world on detonating an atomic bomb on May 18, 1974 in Pokharan and noticeably there was no reaction or condemnation of any kind from the world at large.

A strong defence system coupled with its being a nuclear power is helping the government in defeating hostile elements and continuing its onward journey on the path of progress, development and prosperity in a determined and committed manner

In all fairness, atomic programme of Pakistan initiated by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who in 1974 had summoned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from Holland and told him in plain words “Pakistan needs you”. Mr Bhutto had given the most important task to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and several others associated with the atomic programme to develop an atomic bomb in three years.

Cutting long story short, India had carried out atomic bomb detonation second timer again on May 11 and 13, 1998. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who was at the helm of national affairs for the second stint for giving a positive and deterrent response to India in this regard took all important though quite difficult decision in consultations with all concerned and Pakistan had carried out atom bomb, for which all preparations were already complete for many years, test firing five times on May 28, 1998 in Ras Ko Hills of district Chagai in Balochistan. Test firing for 6th time was carried out on May 30, 1998.

The atomic programme of the country which was started by one democratically elected Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was thus carried forward by another elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Nature had so destined to say the least.

Had Zukfikar Ali Bhutto survived and not hanged during military regime of then Chief of Army Staff/President General Muhammad Ziaul Haq for abetment in the murder of father of a political adversary, Pakistan would have become an atomic power much earlier than May 1998. Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan ,who had played a pivotal role in development of atomic programme, is very much alive and can verify this.

As stated above, Pakistan being a responsible atomic power and every succeeding civilian government ensuring foolproof security and safety of the country’s nuclear assets through an effective control and command system, the enemies inimical to the existence of Pakistan are quite effectively being kept at bay from indulging in any mischievous plans and aggressive postures against Pakistan.

Needless to mention here that a country makes steady progress and development only in a secure and safe atmosphere due to its strong defence system which is helping the government in continuing focusing on all spheres economically as well as socially. It is also generally said and believed that defence of any country and economic development are inter-related with each other. And, this is quite true in case of our beloved motherland Pakistan.

Pakistan being a sovereign independent country and an atomic power also with capability of striking back any foreign aggression has surely and certainly contributed a great deal towards maintenance of balance of power and ensuring peace in the region in the face of India’s persistent hegemonious policies and several attempts every now and then to isolate Pakistan in the comity of nations and miserably failing in achieving its evil designs.

In the conclusion, this scribe would like to make quite pertinent queries from all political parties . Becoming an atomic power on May 28, 1998 was a development of great national importance of permanent nature with the blessings of Almighty Allah, why celebrating Youm-e-Takbir every year is left to people in general particularly PML(N) and its leadership ?

Pakistan’s atomic programme, as already mentioned above, was initiated by PPP founding Chairman and elected Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who to pay a very heavy price for this and also convening the Islamic Summit at Lahore , the largest ever to be participated heads of Islamic countries including King Faisal and Col Muammar Qadhaffi , and it was successfully culminated by PML(N) founder President and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But, somehow ,only PML(N) has been celebrating earlier and after coming into power again in 2013. It is not comprehensible as to why PML(QA) and PPP leadership have ever bothered to officially celebrate Youm-e-Takbir ever.

This year Youm-e-Takbir is falling for the first time when PTI headed by Chairman Imran Khan as the Prime Minister is in power. But there has been no official word so far from the PTI’s federal government to celebrate Youm-e-Takbir in a befitting manner paying tributes to those political leaders, nuclear scientists, engineers, technicians and other who made it all possible to happen. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore undergoing 7 years term and still he has directed the party leadership and workers to celebrate Youm-e-Takbir as usually quite enthusiastically on May 28, 2019.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will do a great service to the nation and the country by ordering celebrating great national occasion of Youm-e-Takbir officially throughout the country. National event like Youm-e-Takbir should not left to be celebrated from the platform of just one political party and in fairness nation-wide officially as a national event of great importance and significance.

However, Pakistani nation will continue celebrating Youm-e-Takbir enthusiastically every year on May 28 as long as Pakistan exists on the world map for centuries together, Inshallah. Youm-e-Takbir Zindabad.Long Live Pakistan.

The writer is a Lahore-based freelance journalist, columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) , Radio Pakistan, Islamabad