ISLAMABAD (APP) – President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said the sacrifices rendered by the armed forces, police, law enforcement agencies and people in the fight against militancy and extremism would not go in vain.
In a message on the eve of Martyrs Day being observed by the army to pay homage to the officers and Jawans who laid down their lives in fighting against militants and extremists, the President said: “The whole nation salutes the valiant defenders of the country and stands behind them.”
The President said without the courage and sacrifices of the members of the armed forces and full backing of the people, it would not have been possible to defeat militancy and hoist once again the flag of Pakistan in Swat and Malakand.
The President also prayed for the souls of the martyred officers and Jawans, saying the soldiers had written a new chapter in the history of country with their blood and the nation would never forget their sacrifices.
He said the nation also owed gratitude to the families of the martyrs. It is our duty to do everything possible to rehabilitate the families and enable them cope with the challenges that they are facing, Zardari added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while paying homage and tribute to the courage and patriotism of the countryÂ’s brave soldiers for their supreme sacrifice for peace and security of Pakistan said Friday that time is not far away when peace will be restored in every nook and corner of the country.
“Today, we are observing ‘Youm-e-Shuhada’ to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of our brave soldiers for peace and security of Pakistan. The whole nation pays homage and tribute to their courage, patriotism and devotion, and would always keep their memories alive,” the Prime Minister said in his message on the occasion of Youm-e-Shuhada observed in the country on Friday.
He said it was due to misconceived policies of the past that no one was feeling safe in the whole country, adding that even a popular leader of the calibre of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in the broad daylight right in the heart of Rawalpindi.
“Innocent people of Malakand, Swat rather the whole of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were in the clutches of militants. Our security forces were the prime targets of these death mongers and enemies of humanity,” he added. The Prime Minister said the country’s valiant armed forces and courageous security agencies rose to the occasion and defeated their nefarious designs and broke their myth of invincibility.
“By dint of our brave soldiers and officers, the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in particular took a sigh of relief. Now, time is not far away when peace will be restored in every nook and corner of the country,” he added.
“On this occasion, I would also like to commensurate with the bereaved families and assure them full support of my government. I also pray to Almighty Allah to rest the martyrs in the highest echelon of paradise”, the Prime Minister said.
Our Staff Reporter from Swat adds: In order to pay rich tribute the heroes who laid down their lives while safeguarding the frontiers of the country, the different ceremonies to mark ‘Youm-i-Shuhada’ were held here on Friday in all seven tehsils of Swat.
The people recited the Holy Quran and offered ‘Fatiha’ for the departed souls of those brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives while protecting frontiers of the country.
The Army officials, elected representatives of the people including MNA Muzaffarul Mulk, ex-MNA and central leader of ANP, Afzal Khan Lala, ex-provincial minister, Jamal Abdul Nasir, Dost Mohammad Khan and others also participated in these gatherings held here in all seven tehsils of Swat.
The Army officials also laid floral wreath at ‘Yadgar-i-Shuhada’ and lauded their services. The students, social and political workers, policemen and journalists also participated in these ceremonies. They lauded security forces’ role in safeguarding frontiers of the country. They demanded that the day should be marked on the same date every year and vowed that they would fight against the militants.
Meanwhile, at least 100 people were arrested and later released during a search operation carried out in Niligram area by the security forces against the militants.
On tip-off regarding presence of the militants in the said area, the security forces launched a search operation against militants. After assembling around 150 female and children in a school, the forces conducted search operation. After clearing the area, the security forces, however, released all the arrested 100 people. No militant was apprehended in the operation.
People from different walks of life expressed regret for assembling women and children in a school during the operation and termed it as an action against norms and traditions of the society.