Daily Times

The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is all set to celebrate the 57th Defence and Martyrs Day with national enthusiasm on Monday across the province where people would pay homage to all martyrs and ghazis of Pakistan, who laid down their lives and injured during wars for defence of the motherland. Fom Chitral to DI Khan and Kohistan to South Waziristan, people from all walks of life including senior citizens, academics, farmers, civil society, human rights activists, military personnel, farmers, labourers and mediamen would present glowing tributes to all martyrs and ghazis of Pakistan, who rendered matchless sacrifices while fighting against the enemy during 1948, 1965 and 1971 wars, 1999 Kargil conflict, war against terror.

This year’s Defence and Martyrs’ Day theme is “our martyrs our pride, salute to all the relatives belonging to ghazis and Shaheeds.” The day would dawn with special prayers in mosques for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and enternal peace of all martyrs in all 35 districts of KP including seven merged tribal districts.

Civil and military officials, politicians, traders, businessmen, mediamen, relatives, colleagues and others segments of the society would pay visit to residences of martyrs and recipients of Nishan-e-Haider as mark of respect and present glowing tributes to the defenders of Pakistan.

The entire nation is paying homage to all martyrs of armed forces of Pakistan including recepiants of prestigious Nishan-e-Haider (NH), Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed, Major Aziz Bhutti Shaheed, Major Muhammad Akram Shaheed, Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfuz Shaheed, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed and Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed decorated with Hilal-e-Kashmir (Equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider).

Floral wreaths would be laid on the graves of martyrs and recipients of Nishan-e- Haider. The smartly turned out contingents of armed forces would present salute to pay respect to all recipients of Nishan-e-Haider.

“September 6, 1965 was a day when India attacked Pakistan in darkness without a warning or a declaration of war by violating all international laws, conventions and agreements. The whole Pakistani nation along with their valiant military forces stood up against the coward enemy and showed unmatched valour in 1965 War and defeated Indian forces despite limited resources,” said Brigadier Retd Mehmood Shah, Former Secretary Security and Law &Order of the erstwhile Fata (Now merged areas) while talking to APP. He said Pakistan Air Force and Artillery had broken the back of the enemy in 65 War. He said Pakistan had occupied about 1,617 square miles of Indian territory during 65 war and we were in a strong position to occupy Delhi if war continued for a few more days as the morale of enemy troops had been completely shattered.

He said most of the enemy officers of 1965 war had served with Pakistani commanders during the second World (War II) and the latter knew about their so called fighting abilities and war skills that helped our forces to foil their evil designs. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) had successfully defended the strategic BRB canal near Lahore for five days where he embraced shahadat after being hit by an enemy tank shell on September 10, 1965. Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmood Alam popularly known as M.M. Alam shot down two enemy hunter aircrafts and damaged three others on 6th September and destroyed five more enemy hunter aircrafts in less than a minute on September 7th, which was unprecedented in the history of PAF. Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Ahmad Bhatti and Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmad Rafiqui had thwarted the nefarious designs of the enemy on Halwara and destroyed several enemy’s aircrafts. Squarden Leader, Sarfaraz Rafiqui fought bravely in 65 War and embraced Shahadat.

Similarly, Squadron Leader Sajjad Haider had exhibited an exceptional leadership, indomitable courage and flying skills in operations during the said war.

He said the legacy of unmatched gallantry and sacrifices of our Army Officers and Jawans started with the martyrdom of Capt Raja Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed (NH) in 1948 Kashmir War, had been carryforward by Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (NH) in 1965 war, Shabbir Sharif in 1971 War and Capt Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (NH) during the Kargil conflict in 1999.