S. A Haidri
Muzaffarabad: Foundation day of Azad Kashmir was celebrated in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir with full zest and zeal. Kashmir Diaspora around the world also celebrated the 70th founding day with great enthusiasm.
Different events were organized on founding day in division, district and tehsil Headquarters. The main function was held in the capital Muzaffarabad on Tuesday, which was attended by President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Chief Justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Ibrahim Zia, Judge High Court Justice Azhar Saleem Babar, Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja, Ministers of State Dr. Najeeb Naqi Khan, Chaudhry Mohammad Saeed, Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, Nasir Hussain Dar, Sardar Mir Akbar Khan, Syed Shaukat Hussain Shah, Members Legislative Assembly Col. Waqar Ahmed Noor, Chaudhry Ismail, Chaudhry Ishaq , Ch. Shahzad Mahmood, Ch. Rukhsar, Syed Shaukat Shah, Additional Chief Secretary Development Dr. Syed Asif Hussain Shah, Inspector General Azad Kashmir Police Shoaib Dastgir, Secretaries , Deputy Inspector Generals, heads of different departments and a large number of citizens.
The ceremony started with the recitation of Holy Quran and Naat, after which national anthem was presented. President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on the occasion, inspected the Azad Kashmir Police Parade. In the event, 6 officers and constabulary who showed significant performance from the police department were given presidential medals. Among those included SSP Poonch Yasin Baig, Inspector Tariq Mahmood, Constabulary Mohammad Waheed, Babar Hamid, Sohrab Yousuf, Zeeshan Haider and Constable from Mirpur Khalid Siddique also included.
On this occasion, young constables of police department passed March and greeted the guest special, while Commandos also made special demonstrations. Students of different government schools presented PT Shows which was appreciated by audience.
During the occasion, Kashmir Liberation Cell, Kashmir Culture Academy, TEVTA, Small Industries, Tourism, Education Schools, Azad Kashmir Police, Agriculture, Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries, AKLASC, Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Livestock and Dairy Development and Private Institutions exhibited special floats appreciated with huge applause by audience. The special performance of horses was presented by the Livestock and Dairy Department.
President Sardar Masood Khan addressed the occasion. In his speech, he said, “Today is a blessed and sacred day for Jammu and Kashmir, and for Pakistan; 70 years ago, war for independence was on peak. On this day, we pay tribute to the unique revolutionary leadership of Ghazi-e-Millat Sardar Mahmood Ibrahim Khan, state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir liberated under his leadership.”
President said that it is the promise of the independent state that we will not curb any sacrifice for the freedom of Indian occupied Kashmir and to present our case on the international level for the self-determination of the Kashmiri’s, until we succeed. Refering sisters and brothers in occupied Kashmir on the occasion, President said that we are two parts of the same body, any brutality on them is felt here, their wounds are ours.
President Sardar Masood Khan reiterated that God Almighty will combine all of us soon and together we will celebrate freedom.
Director General Tourism, Javed Ayub and Sub-Inspector Police Ali Dad Sulehriya remained stage secretary. The massive audience enjoyed the whole event and thanked Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on the inauguration of successful event.