The Defence Day of Pakistan was observed with traditional fervour and solemnity in all cantonments of NWFP on Wednesday. A special floral wreath laying ceremony was held at the grave of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider, at his native town in district Swabi to pay homage to the celebrated and courageous hero of Kargil War.
Brigadier Shahid laid floral wreath at the Mazar of Shaheed and offered fateha. A smartly turned out contingent of Baloch Regiment presented salute to pay respect to the great warrior officer.
Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, who was commissioned in 1995 in Sindh Regiment, laid down his life in the defence of the motherland at a forward location at an altitude of 18,400 feet on June 28, 1999. He in his bid to recapture the post not only successfully evicted the enemy but also inflicted heavy casualties on them. He himself fell martyred in the process.
The courageous feat of the Shaheed by accomplishing the assigned mission of forcing the adversary to withdraw has left the Indian soldiers out rightly in pressed by splendid battle performance of this young hero of the Pakistan Army.
His epic action in the battlefield true to his name has earned him the title of the Loin of Kargil and he has emerged as a symbol of courage and valour among the young officers of Pakistan Army.
Amongst the variety of activities and arrangements made for the defence day, much wider publicity was earned by special equipment displayed held at Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium Peshawar Cantonment.
The ceremony started with recitation from the Holy Quran, Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Mohammad Hamid Khan along with Major General Anwar Sher (Retd) declared the opening of the Defence Day Celebrations. Corps Commander also had a round of the exhibition of the armament where the latest arms and equipment in use of Pakistan Army was on display.
Serving and retired military officers, junior commissioned officers, jawans, their families, the officials of the civil administration the students of various schools besides a large number of gathering of general public, who visited the exhibition were briefed by the army officers at the stalls of Infantry, Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Corps of Signals, Air Defence, Logistic and Frontier Corps, folk dances and army band display also attained lot of general public attraction.
Corps Commander Lieutenant General Mohammad Hamid Khan also gave away shields to winners of best holds layout. Army logistic stall achieved the first position for best-laid out stall.
The daylong celebrations started with Quran Khawani and special prayers were offered for the preservation, integrity, sovereignty and solidarity of the country in the unit mosques after Fajar prayers. The day dawned with National Flag hoisting on all the Formation Headquarters, units and installations.
Special Durbars were held at the units where message of Vice Chief of Army Staff for the occasion was read out to the troops and the commanding officers highlighted the significance of the day.-PR