On the 53rd anniversary of the 1965 war, the nation is celebrating Defence and Martyrs Day Thursday (today) to pay homage to the martyrs and ghazis who stood as solid wall to defend the motherland against the aggression of enemy.
The day beheld its dawn with thirty one gun salute in Islamabad and twenty one gun salutes at provincial capitals.
Change of guard ceremony also took place at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi in the morning and a PAF contingent assumed the guard duty of mausoleum of the father of nation.
Later today, main ceremony of the day will be held at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM to pay homage to the martyrs and their families.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will be chief guest on the occasion, as confirmed by Minister of Information Chaudhary Fawad Hussain in a tweet.
The ceremony will be attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three services chiefs, Ministers, Senators, MNAs, ambassadors, diplomats, military and civilian officials and people from various walks of life.
Special prayers were also offered after Fajr prayers in mosques for progress and prosperity of the country.
Fateha and Quran Khawani will also be held for the martyrs throughout the day.
It was on this day in 1965 that Indian forces crossed international border in the darkness of night to attack Pakistan but the nation and the armed forces foiled the nefarious designs of the enemy.
‘Humain Pyar Hai Pakistan Se’
The Inter Services Public Relations, which started a unique campaign this year, to pay tribute to the country’s martyrs finally released the theme song for this year’s defence and martyrs day.
The campaign was aptly titled “Humain Pyar Hai Pakistan Se”
