Nation celebrates Quaid’s birth anniversary with zeal, fervour

-COAS says no power on earth can undo Pakistan
-PM urges nation to follow Quaid’s footsteps in all walks of life
-PMA Cadets assume guards responsibility at Mazar-e-Quaid

By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said no power on earth can undo Pakistan.
In his message in connection with the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he said the nation is celebrating Quaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s anniversary with great reverence and commitment upholding his message of hope, courage and confidence.
The COAS said Unity and Discipline shall always remain guiding principles of our great nation. 145th birthday anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is being celebrated with traditional zeal across the country.
The day dawn with the recitation of the Holy Quran at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi. A number of events, including seminars, debates and exhibitions, are being held both at official and civil society levels to highlight life, achievements and different aspects of the personality of the Quaid.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan while paying rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his role in the creation of Pakistan has urged the nation to pay a befitting homage to “our great Quaid” by following his footsteps in all walks of lives.
“Let us live the Quaid’s ideals of Unity, Faith and Discipline with a renewed national spirit so that we make this country rise above all seen and unseen challenges,” he said in a message on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the founder of nation.
The Prime Minister said, “On this eventful day when Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born, a proud nation was destined to come into being. “I feel blessed to have opened my eyes in a free environment bestowed upon us by God through his chosen personality who was none other but our beloved Quaid,” he added.The Prime Minister said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a vision for the Muslims of the subcontinent which got translated in the shape of Pakistan.
“Therefore, there is no other pleasure more real to us as a nation than the commemoration of his birthday. As a prime representative of whole nation, I owe immense gratitude, love and devotion towards my beloved leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that in the modern history of mankind, there were a few people who garnered such a wide popularity as our Quaid did. “His determination to carve a nation out of chaos and relentless deprivation was miraculous and insuperable against all odds and challenges”, he added..
The Prime Minister said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a firm faith in God and His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which guided him through a long journey comprising of ordeals, deceptions and dejections but culminating in grandeur, décor and eternity.
“He is a role model not merely for us but for Muslims of whole world because of the universal vision he instilled in the creation of Pakistan.With the adorable actions which spoke louder than words, he became an actual prototype of honesty and righteousness,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “We trace not a single discourse by our beloved Quaid on the innumerable sacrifices he made for the cause of his nascent nation rather it is only through his actions that we learn of all those grieving losses he personally went through.”
“Together, let us beseech Allah that He grants us strength to realize our destiny of becoming the strongest nation on earth as rightly visualized by our Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” he maintained.
Furthermore, Seventy eight (78) cadets, including six lady cadets from Pakistan Military Academy on Friday assumed guard responsibilities of Mazar-e-Quaid in an impressive ceremony, held here to mark 145th birth anniversary of the Father of Nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Commandant, Maj Gen. Omer Ahmed Bukhari was the chief guest on the occasion. The ceremony was also attended by senior military and civil officials along with prominent citizens of Karachi.
Of the 78 PMA cadets, 72 represented 144 and 147 Long Course while lady cadets were from Lady Cadet Corps 17.
Maj General Omer Ahmed Bukhari laid wreath and offered ‘Fateha’ at Mazar-Quaid.
The ceremony concluded with march past by the cadets assuming guard responsibilities.
Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi while paying rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his role in the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims of the sub-continent has reaffirmed the nation’s pledge to follow his ideals to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country.
“As we celebrate the 144th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we pay him a rich tribute for his role in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent. We pledge to follow his ideals to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country,” he said in a message on the occasion of Quaid-e-Azam Day.
The president said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah propounded the two-nation theory, championed the rights of minorities and declared that members of every community will be treated as citizens of Pakistan with equal rights, privileges and obligations and that minorities will be safeguarded and protected.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to building a state that respects the diversity of its people and provides equal opportunities to its citizens irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or colour,” he added.
The president further said on this day, they must also remember the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who have been subjected to the worst form of state-terrorism for over seven decades.
India has unleashed a reign of terror against them and has imposed a complete lockdown since last year, he said, adding, “We urge the international community to compel and shame India to stop committing human rights violations and grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination as promised under the UN Security Council resolutions.”
The president mentioned the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic currently faced by the entire world, and urged the nation to exhibit self-discipline and follow health guidelines to contain the spread of the virus.
“We need to display the same spirit of discipline which we did during the first wave of the pandemic,” he maintained.