Manan Mandokhail:
Quetta and other parts of Balochistan saw significant turnouts as crowds gathered to celebrate Youm-i-Takbeer. Various political parties, civil society groups, and people from diverse backgrounds came together to pay tribute to former premiers Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Youm-i-Takbeer, observed on May 28, commemorates the historic day in 1998 when Pakistan joined the ranks of nuclear powers following atomic tests in the hills of Chagai, Balochistan. This achievement marked Pakistan as the seventh nuclear nation globally and the first Muslim state to possess a nuclear arsenal.
The event saw participation from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and notable figures such as Ali Madad Jattak of the PPP, Bakht Kakar, the provincial minister from the PPP, Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind, Mir Imran Bangulzai, and Dr. Sana Achakzai, who addressed the rallies. Participants carried placards featuring national hero Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, former premiers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir.
Speakers praised these leaders for their pivotal roles in making Pakistan a nuclear power and vowed to defend the nation. They emphasized that the country stands united against any threats and is resolute in protecting its borders, showcasing a strong and unified stance on national security and pride in Pakistan’s nuclear achievements.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti also congratulated the nation on the eve of May 28th and said that it was a matter of pride and pleasure that the country of the status of a nuclear State. “We are strong and proud in the comity of nations today because of the sacrifices of our leaders”, Mr. Bugti stated.
