A ceremony marking one year of Marka-e-Haq has officially begun at the Pakistan Monument.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with federal ministers and senior military officials, are attending the event.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Baber Sidhu are also present.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, and Federal Minister Aleeem Khan are also among the key personalities present at the ceremony.
PM Shehbaz began his address at the Pakistan Monument by observing one minute of silence for those martyred during the period of conflict.
The ceremony began with a march past and the recitation of the Holy Quran.
PM Shehbaz’s address
PM Shehbaz Sharif has paid tribute to the armed forces and martyrs. ‘I pay salute to Field Marshal Asim Munir’, he said on the Marka-e-Haq anniversary.
PM Shehbaz said that India “using Pahalgam as an excuse, made baseless accusations against Pakistan”. However, he further recalled that despite Pakistan offering a transparent investigation into the incident, the “enemy in the dark of the night attacked our mosques, children, and imposed a war on us”.
Addressing in Islamabad, the prime minister announced that Marka-e-Haq will be celebrated every year with great enthusiasm on May 10.
“Our brave armed forces gave the enemy a historical response,” he said, adding that the war summary was “that our Shaheens dominated the conflict from all sides”.
The premier added that history will always remember Field Marshal’s wise and brave leadership.
“Field Marshal’s wise and brave leadership will be written in golden words in history. Field Marshal Asim Munir, the entire nation and I salute you,” PM Shehbaz said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also vows that the martyrs’ sacrifice will not go in vain, and that Pakistan will rise to great heights.
President Zardari’s address
In a special ceremony at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the nation, praising the Pakistan Air Force for demonstrating unmatched skill and confidence. He commended the pilots for facing a formidable adversary with exceptional expertise and defending Pakistan’s airspace with thorough preparation and determination.
Addressing the Marka-e-Haq ceremony, the president said, “Pakistan’s Armed Forces under Field Marshal Asim Munir gave a befitting response to India. Our Air Force downed 8 enemy aircraft.”
Addressing the main ceremony, the President said that following the Pahalgam incident, war was imposed on Pakistan. India launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan and targeted civilian areas and places of worship. He said the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army gave a strong and decisive response to Indian aggression.
President Zardari added that May 10 is a golden chapter in Pakistan’s history.
He further stated that India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir remains unresolved, and Pakistan will continue its diplomatic, political, and moral support for the Kashmiri people. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
The President added that Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan through Afghanistan must come to an end.
