Defence Day celebrated across KP, Fata with fervour

PESHAWAR: The Defence Day of Pakistan was marked across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federally administered tribal areas (Fata) with traditional fervour and solemnity.
In the provincial capital, amongst the variety of activities and arrangements made for the defence day, much wider publicity was earned by special equipment display held at the Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium here.
Corps Commander Lt-Gen Hidayatur Rahman, who was chief guest on the occasion, declared the opening of the Defence Day Celebration.
He visited the exhibition, 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 enthralled general public.
The students of the Army Public School marched on a special float prepared for the occasion. PAF and Army Aviation fly-past energised the audience.
The daylong celebration started with Quran Khwani and special prayers were offered for the preservation, integrity, sovereignty and solidarity of the country in the unit mosques after Fajr prayers.
Special darbars were held at the units where message of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif was read out to the troops and the commanding officers.
A special floral wreath laying ceremony was held at the grave of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider in his native town in Swabi district to pay homage to the celebrated and courageous hero of Kargil War. Brigadier Muhammad Imtanan Babar laid floral wreath at the Mazar of Shaheed and offered fateha. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented salute to pay respect to the officer.
Lakki Marwat: Pak Army Tajazai base camp commander Brig Abdul Hameed, Lt Col Muhammad Basit, DPO Ali Akbar Shah, AC Sher Alam Khan, APA Abdul Kabir Khan, members of Marwat Qaumi Jirga and relatives of martyrs marked the Defence Day and Yaum-i-Shuhada.
Chitral: The Defence Day was marked at the Chitral Scouts Headquarters where floral wreaths were laid on the ‘Yadgar-i-Shuhada’ by the Commandant Chitral Scouts Col Naeem Iqbal, District Police Officer Abbas Majeed Khan Marwat and others were present on the occasion. Timergara: Commandant Dir Scouts Col Nusrat Hayat Laleka, Lt-Col Shahid, Major Shahid, DSP Tahir Khan and social and political figures marked the even at Adenzai subdivision.
Nowshera: The chairman of The Peace Group of School and College, Sanaullah Khan and Chief Executive Ejaz Bacha said that our forefathers along with the Pakistan Army got the country for the Muslims. The students sang national songs.
Landikotal: The Defence Day was marked where Commandant Khyber Rifles Col Tariq Hafiz in his address said that those killing innocent citizens had no relation with Islam.
He distributed Rs700,000 cash, gifts and sport kits among the 102 families and children of martyred personnel.
Shangla: The day was commemorated at the Government Higher Secondary School in Bisham where Assistant Commissioner Javed Iqbal said that the Pakistan Army was ready to counter any aggression on the part of India. He announced Rs50,000 for the children, who sang national songs and presented various performance.