Islamabad: Defence and Martyrs Day was observed across Pakistan on Sunday to honor the martyrs and Ghazis, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to defending its sovereignty against any threats. The day marks the anniversary of the 1965 conflict when Indian forces crossed the border, a move that was successfully repelled by Pakistan.
According to Radio Pakistan: the day began with a thirty-one-gun salute in the Federal Capital and a twenty-one-gun salute in provincial capitals. Special prayers were conducted in mosques for the country’s prosperity and the independence of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Radio Pakistan broadcast special programs to commemorate the defenders of the nation.
A series of ceremonies were held nationwide, including a Guard of Honour at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore, where Corps Commander Lahore, Lieutenant General Syed Fayyaz Hussain Shah, laid a floral wreath at Allama Iqbal’s grave. In Multan, Commander Southern Command presented a salute at the Martyrs’ Memorial. Similar tributes occurred in Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala.
Karachi hosted a dignified change-of-Guard ceremony at Mazar-e-Quaid, involving seventy-two cadets from the Pakistan Air Force Academy. Sindh’s Chief Minister and Corps Commander Karachi paid respects at the Martyrs’ Monument. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, senior military officers attended a ceremony in Peshawar, laying floral wreaths and offering prayers at the Martyrs’ Memorial.
In Quetta, Balochistan’s central ceremony was attended by the Governor, Chief Minister, and senior officials. The Frontier Corps Balochistan organized a tribute to the martyrs, with civil and military officials participating.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, special events were organized, including a military equipment exhibition in Gilgit. In Muzaffarabad, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with military and civil officials, paid homage at the Martyrs’ Memorial. The ceremonies concluded with prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks.