Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday invited all political parties of the country to become part of Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan (Charter for Stability of Pakistan) on the occasion of festivities to mark Marka-i-Haq and Independence Day.
A special grand ceremony is underway in Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium with senior civil and military leadership present on the occasion. Among the senior dignitaries present at the event are President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Inter Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, federal and state ministers and foreign officials.
Addressing the event, PM Shehbaz said: “The time has come for us to move beyond political division, personal interest and empty slogans to adopt collective thinking for Pakistan. On this great day today, I once again, with an open heart, invite all political parties, stakeholders and civil society to become part of Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan.”
He said the above was not a plan to revive the Charter of Economy but to lay the basis for the greater national interest so the whole world could see that “differences have their own place but we are all one for the sake of our beloved Pakistan”.
The prime minister subsequently unveiled the digital model of the Marka-i-Haq Monument.
Parades were taken out by the different branches of the armed forces. Military personnel from Turkiye and Azerbaijan were also featured in the parade.
A fly-by was conducted by fighter jets deploying flares across the night sky.
The parade members also made formations spelling out freedom and Marka-i-Haq, and in the shape of the national flag.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had said last month that this year’s Independence Day would be celebrated under the banner of “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) to demonstrate the nation’s resilience, progress, and pride.
The Pakistan Army had named the period of conflict with India since the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the May 10 conclusion of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos as “Marka-i-Haq” in May.
The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came as the former blamed Islamabad for the April 22 Pahalgam attack without evidence. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week. It took a US-brokered ceasefire for both sides to finally drop their guns.
More to follow.