Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif visits brother's grave on Defence Day

 

LAHORE: As the country celebrates Defence Day in commemoration of the 1965 war with India, former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif paid tribute to his brother and 1971 war veteran Major Shabbir Shareef Shaheed on Wednesday.

A ceremony was held in this regard at Maj Shabbir’s grave in the Miani Sahib cemetery. Lahore General Officer Commanding Major General Syed Mohammad Adnan, the former army chief, other military officials and relatives of Maj Shabbir were present on the occasion.

Special prayers were offered at the event.

Floral wreaths by the president, joint chiefs of staff chairman and army chief were laid at the martyr’s grave while a guard of honour was also presented.

Maj Shabbir was a young officer during the 1965 war and was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery. For his exceptional gallantry in the 1971 war, in which he laid down his life, he was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider.

Gen (retd) Raheel served as the army chief from November 2013 to November 2016. In April this year, he left for Saudi Arabia to serve as the head of the ‘coalition of Muslim countries’.  

PTI's Yasmin Rashid visits grave 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Yasmin Rashid, who is the party's candidate in the September 17 NA-120 by-election in Lahore, also visited Maj Shabbir's grave. 

She offered prayers at the martyr's grave. 

Former Army Chief visits grave of Major Shabbir Sharif

The former Army Chief met army officials present at the ceremony.

Raheel Sharif arrives in Lahore

Crew of the aircraft were lodged in a local hotel.