Change of guard ceremonies held at Quaid, Iqbal’s mausoleums on I-Day

KARACHI/LAHORE : August 14, 2020, marks the 73rd independence anniversary of Pakistan, which on Friday began with prayers for the motherland in the mosques, thirty-one gun salute in the federal capital and twenty-one gun salute in the provincial capitals. Graceful change of guards ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Pakistan’s founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Poet of the East Allama Iqbal. As per details, an impressive change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of the nation, to mark the country’s 74th Independence Day. A smartly turned out cadets of the Pakistan Naval Academy assumed the ceremonial guard duties at the mausoleum. Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Mushtaq Ahmed graced the occasion as the chief guest. He inspected the cadets during a parade paying tribute to the founder of the nation and later laid a floral wreath at the Quaid’s Mazar, offered Fateha and recorded his impression on visitor’s book. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the tomb and hoisted Pakistan’s flag. An elegant Change of guards ceremony was also observed at Mausoleum of poet of the East and philosopher, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army (Sindh Regiment) took charge of the guard duties from the Rangers. General Officer Commanding (GOC) 10 Infantry Division, Lahore Major General Muhammad Aniq Ur Rehman Malik was the chief guest on the occasion. He laid floral wreath, offered Fateha at the tomb and recorded his impressions in the visitor’s book. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited the tomb and offered Fateha. Quaid-e-Azam gave a gift of independent country to the Muslims of the subcontinent, he said on the occasion. The nation celebrated Independence Day today with a renewed pledge to work with the spirit of Pakistan Movement to make the country a true Islamic welfare state. National flag is hoisting at all important public and private buildings. The main feature of the celebrations was a national flag hoisting ceremonies at President House. Public and private buildings as well as streets, bazaars and markets have been profusely illuminated and decorated with national flags, portraits of founding fathers, posters