Like the rest of the country, the 76th Independence Day of Pakistan was observed with great enthusiasm and zeal in respective areas of Balochistan including Quetta, Nasirabad, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Sibi, Chaghi, Pishin, Chaman, and other areas. The day began with special prayers in the mosques for the unity, solidarity, and prosperity of the country. A 21-gun salute was presented after the Fajar prayer to mark the day in the provincial capital Quetta.
The main ceremony was organized on the lawn of the Balochistan Assembly. Speaker of Balochistan Assembly Jan Muhammad Jamali, Chief Minister Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Balochistan Ombudsman Nazar Baloch, IG, Police Abdul Khaliq Sheikh and high other officials attended the celebration ceremony of Independence Day.
The Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali hoisted the national flag as chief guest. Addressing the ceremony, Jan Muhammad Jamali said, “He is very happy to join you at the function for celebrating Independence Day.” He said that as you all know very well that on August 14, 1947, our beloved country the Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into being. “Today is achieved by the vision and sacrifices of our leaders and ancestors,” Jamali added.
The Speaker said, “We have been maintaining the tradition of celebrating Independence Day for 76 years, Pakistan is a land of countless resources and countless blessings.” He said, “The Independence Day of any country is a moment of pride and glory.” The Speaker said, “The people of Pakistan and the forces of state together are the guarantors of the development of this country.”
The Speaker reiterated, “We have been maintaining the tradition of celebrating Independence Day for 76 years, Pakistan is a land of countless resources and countless blessings.” He said, “The Independence Day of any country is a moment of pride and glory.” The Speaker said, “The people of Pakistan and the forces of state together are the guarantors of the development of this country.” The speaker and the participants at the end chanted slogans ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Balochistan Paindabad’.
He urged the nation to pledge on this day to uphold the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance, forgiveness, socio-economic justice, and moral and ethical values, as enunciated by Islam.
“The stories of those people, who faced hardships, endured oppression and braved immense challenges to reach Pakistan, serve as a source of inspiration for our future generations.
We should value the sacrifices of our forefathers for the creation of Pakistan and work for the prosperity of our people,” he said. He paid homage to Quaid-e-Azam’s visionary leadership and other leaders without whom the dream of Pakistan could not see the light of day. He said that as the nation celebrated the 76th independence anniversary, “we need to summon the spirit that marked the independence movement and employ the lesson of unity and self-belief to chart the way forward”. He vowed to stand in complete solidarity with the oppressed people of India-held Kashmir and provide political, moral, and diplomatic support to them.
