Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Tuesday that the nation needed the same enthusiasm and spirit which it had demonstrated during the war of 1965, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In his message on Defence Day, he said it became more necessary given the fact that a large part of the country was confronted with floods from record-breaking monsoon showers this year. “Today is the day to pay homage to the martyrs of 1965 war and to express solidarity with their families,” he said in the message.  

Bilawal, who is also PPP chairman, said that unity could enable the nation to come out of greater adversities of life with flying colours. 

The FM went on to add that the efforts made by his grandfather, slain prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) and by his mother, also a slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto for making the country’s defence invincible are no secret. “It was ZAB, who despite all opposition by the world’s establishment and enemy states, laid the foundation of the country’s nuclear programme and went ahead with it,” he said, adding and it was his late mother who had gifted missile technology to the nation. 

Pakistan’s strategic defence assets, he added, were in safe hands, and there was a unanimity of opinion that there would be no compromise on them.

Hamza Shehbaz pays tributes to war heroes

Hamza Shehbaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said on Tuesday that September 6 was one of the golden days in the country’s history, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In his message on Defence Day, he said it was on this day in 1965 when the valiant armed forces and the nation defended the country’s frontiers. “We salute our martyrs and ghazis whose heroics are still fresh in our memories,” he added. 

Hamza, who has also served as the Punjab chief minister, said that the country’s armed forces were fully capable of thwarting any threat from within the country or outside. “That is the reason why no country in the world has the courage to cast an evil eye on Pakistan,” he concluded.     

Reporter: Muhsin Mulk