Punjab University (PU) commemorated “Surprise Day” with utmost zeal and fervor and various departments took out rallies, chanting slogans to pay tribute to Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army that once again proved Pakistan’s supremacy over India on Feb 27 last year.
The main rally from VC office was led by PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad and MPA Musarrat Jamshed Cheema in which Pro vice-chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar, Registrar Dr Muhammad Khalid Khan, heads of various departments, faculty members, employees and a huge number of students participated in the rally. The participants were carrying banners and posters bearing pictures of Pakistan Air Force’s Hassan Siddiqui who shot down an Indian fighter jet. One banner was also inscribed with “India’s Blunder, replied by JF Thunder”.
Addressing the rally outside the Institute of Education and Research, PU vice-chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmad said that Feb 27 was a lesson given to India as well as the international community by Pakistan and it was a ‘Thanksgiving Day’. He said that Pakistan had given a message to the international community that we were a responsible nation. Ahmad said that Pakistan Army followed international laws when the Indian pilot surrendered and gave him the best medical treatment in an emergency and served him tea and food.
Niaz said that Operation Swift Retort was not a surprise for him as he already believed that Pakistan Army had the capacity to live up to its legacy with valor and professional excellence and give a historical lesson to the enemy. He said that Modi was acting like a king who never followed any law and due to Modi’s blatant violations of international and national laws, the whole India was burning today and all the minorities were feeling themselves unsafe. VC said that Pakistan had offered joint investigation regarding Pulwama attacks but India did not accept the offer. He added that the whole nation stood with Pakistan Army.
MPA Musarrat Jamshed Cheema said that Modi’s steps had once again proved that Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was right. She said that Kashmir would get independence soon and another Islamic state would emerge out of India.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Saleem Mazhar said that Pakistan Army had removed India’s misunderstanding that she could disturb Pakistan through any misadventure. He said that India was not allowing even its own citizens to live with independence. Earlier, Punjab University VC Prof Niaz Ahmad and MPA Jamshed Cheema also cut a cake to commemorate the first anniversary of Surprise Day. Meanwhile, PU Centre for South Asian Studies organized a seminar to recall the success achieved by the Pakistan’s armed forces over Indian armed forces at its auditorium.
A lecture was delivered by Brig (R) Imran Malik who comprehensively covered the events leading to the events of Balakot and thereafter. He said that these events exposed Indian air forces’ ineptness and lack of professionalism thoroughly. Imran said that Pakistan Navy also exposed Indian Navy’s immature attempt to intrude into Pakistan’s territorial waters and withdrew unceremoniously. He said that Pakistan’s armed forces had revived their commitment to safeguard and secure Pakistan’s independence, territorial integrity and freedom of thought and action. The lecture was concluded by the CSAS Director Professor Dr Umbreen Javaid who also appreciated Pakistan Army and its role in maintaining the strategic balance in the region and how it defended Pakistan against the Indian aggression.