The 42nd Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated on Thursday with renewed pledge to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland, no matter what the cost. The Day dawned with prayers in all mosques of the country and Army Units, Naval Establishments and Air Forces Bases for the progress and prosperity of the country.
Special Dua was offered in the mosques for the eternal peace of the Shuhada who laid down their lives in defence of the country. Special messages of the Services chiefs were read out to the troops of Army, Navy and Air Force.
The Hilal-e-Istaqlal was hoisted in Lahore, Sargodha and Sialkot in recognition of the will, courage, and perseverance of the people of these cities, who bore the main brunt of the enemy's aggression in the 1965 war.
Wreath laying ceremonies were held at the Mazars and monuments of the recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider, the country's highest gallantry award. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life attended the ceremonies to pay homage to the brave sons of the soil who demonstrated indomitable courage and valour in defence of the motherland.
Brigadier Manzoor Ahmed, station commander, Okara Cantt, laid a flower wreath and offered Fateha at the Mazar of Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed, at Tufailabad in Tehsil Arifwala. Major Tufail Muhammad embraced Shahadat at Lakshmi Bridge in East Pakistan in 1958. Major General Tahir Habib Siddiqui, general officer commanding, laid a flower wreath at the Mazar of Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, Shaheed, in Ladian near Gujrat and offered Fateha. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti had embraced Shahdat in 1965 at Burki, Lahore.
Major General Khalid Rabbani, general officer commanding, laid a flower wreath at the monument of Major Muhammad Akram, Shaheed at Jhelum, who embraced Shahdat at district Hilli in East Pakistan.
Major General Raheel Sharif, GOC, laid a flower wreath at the Mazar of Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed at Lahore. Major Shabbir Shareef Shaheed embraced Shahadat while defending motherland in 1971. At Mehfoozabad, old Pind Malkan, Brigadier Arjamand Shaheen Janjua, Center Commandant, Punjab Regimental Center, laid a wreath at the Mazar of Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed and offered Fateha - Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz had embraced Shahadat while defending the motherland at Atari, Wagha border in 1971.