Sargodha pays tribute to squadron leader Hassan Siddiqi on Defence Day

• Pakistan marks its 56th Defence Day on Monday. 
• COAS General Bajwa lays a floral wreath at Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed’s grave in Puraywala.
• Pakistan Army offers gun salute at the grave of Subedar Muhammad Ramzan Shaheed.

SARGODHA: Amid the Defence Day celebrations across the country, Sargodha paid tribute to Pakistan Air Force pilot squadron leader Hassan Siddiqui for shooting down the Indian Air Force fighter jet flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman — during the 2019 India–Pakistan standoff. 

Abhinandan was held captive in Pakistan for six hours after safely ejecting the aircraft.

Meanwhile, a special prayer ceremony was held at the grave of Colonel Imran Arshad Shaheed in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa laid a floral wreath at Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed’s grave in Puraywala, while a similar ceremony was organised at Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed’s grave in Gujrat.

Pakistan Army offered a gun salute at the grave of Subedar Muhammad Ramzan Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom in Wana.

Special ceremonies and rallies were also being held today to pay homage to the country’s armed forces in Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Chaghi, Jehlum, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Naseerabad and Jafferabad.

Furthermore, a freedom marathon was organised in Muzaffarabad while a cycle race was organised in Quetta. 

Pakistan marked its 56th Defence Day on Monday and celebrated the day with full zeal and fervour.

On September 6, 1965, the armed forces of Pakistan successfully thwarted an Indian onslaught in the dead of night. Pakistan's armed forces and their heroics helped push back the enemy in a successful defence that saw the entire nation back its troops during the war.