KARACHI: The entire nation celebrated the 76th anniversary of the independence of Pakistan here on Monday with the first event of the day taking place at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, with an inspiring change of guard ceremony.

Sindh Governor Mohammed Kamran Khan Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also visited the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation and paid rich tributes to him on the occasion. They laid wreaths and offered Fateha.

Earlier, the day dawned with gun salutes and special prayers offered in all naval mosques for the solidarity and progress of the country and particularly for the success of the people`s struggle in Indiaoccupied Kashmir. Pakistan navy ships and establishments were illuminated in a traditional manner. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at all designated units of the Pakistan Navy in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and other coastal areas.

A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Naval Academy cadets and sailors, clad in their ceremonial uniforms, assumed guard duties at the Mazar-i-Quaid with enthusiasm, traditional spirit and military customs.

The Quaid-i-Azam House Museum Institute of Nation Building (formerly Flagstaff House) organised a celebration of independence day with 140 teachers, parents and school pupils to march, sing and recite poems about the Quaid-i-Azam.

The chief guest and cadets of the Pakistan Navy presented the salute and guard of honour to the Father of the Nation. The ceremonial mounting of the guard was followed by the laying of the floral wreath at the Mazar-iQuaid by the chief guest on behalf of the chief of the Naval Staff, the officers and men of the Pakistan Navy.

Later on, the chief guest offered prayers and Fateha and recorded his remarks in the visitor`s book while paying rich tributes to the beloved Quaid.

Various independence day activities were also organised at Pakistan Navy units/establishments including the singing of the national anthem in the morning, the playing of the PN band and display and a flag hoisting ceremony at the Pakistan Maritime Museum, boat rallies at the Karachi Harbour, marathon races and bicycle races were also a part of the celebrations.

Quaid-i-Azam House Museum The programme commenced with the hoisting of the flag by the Quaid-i-Azam`s nephew, Liaquat Merchant, and Ikram Sehgal, co-chairmen of the Quaid-i-Azam House Museum Institute of Nation Building. Board member and Managing Director of Lightstone Publishers Ameena Saiyid was also present on the occasion and distributed copies of Our Quaid, a children`s book about Jinnah written by Amina Azfar.

Author Amina Azfar and trustee of Nasra School Shanaz Wazir Ali also addressed the gathering. Ida Rieu School`s Nadira Panjwani and Principal of St Joseph`s Convent School Sister Elizabeth were also present. The pupils of various Karachi schools sang songs and recited poems about the Quaid. Commodore Sadeed Anwar Malik delivered the vote of thanks.

Celebration at Quaid`s alma mater The Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), the Quaid`s alma mater also celebrated the Independence Day with great national spirit and enthusiasm at its campus. The Vice Chancellor of SMIU, Dr Mujeeb Sahrai, hoisted the national flag and participated in the cake cutting ceremony.

Dr Sahrai said that the Quaid-iAzam led the peaceful struggle to free the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent through his wisdom, intellect, national spirit, maturity and tolerance. `Our nation must go through the life of the Quaid-i-Azam specially from 1935 to 1947, when he most effectively led the nation, did parlays with British rulers, other political parties and got the Pakist an Resolution passed,` he said.

`Our generation is unaware about the conditions that were prevailing in pre-independence days. Also, we did not witness and observe physically how our ancestors struggled for independence. But we must realise that there were sacrifices of our ancestors behind the establishment of Pakistan. Now, it is our prime responsibility to make the country prosperous, progressive, peaceful and developed,` Dr Sahrai added.

Speaking about the role of SindhMadressatul Islam (SMI) school in the independence movement, Dr Sahrai said that the alumni of SMI remained at the forefront of the independence movement, and that one of them happened to be Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He also said that we should salute the founder of SMI, Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi, that he established SMI that produced freedom fighters of the Pakistan movement.

Celebrations at KU, DUHS, Hamdard While addressing a ceremony at the University of Karachi, university Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that Pakistan is currently facing a difficult time, which is expected to pass soon. `To make that transition possible, we all have to work hard and play our role to achieve this,` he said, adding that only those nations that face challenges rather than running away from them manage to accomplish success, and they are remembered by the entire world.

`We should not be doubtful about the future of our beloved motherland or be discouraged by the present scenario. Instead, we should put in efforts to bring the socio-economic situation back on track in Pakistan,` he said.

At 8am, the entire Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) staff gathered at their Ojha Campus to sing the national anthem as their Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammad Saeed Quraishy hoisted the Pakistan flag.

On the occasion, Professor Mohammad Saeed Quraishy stated that while differences of opinion are common among nations in public matters, there can be no compromise on national security and dignity. `Freedom of expression exists in Pakistan, but promoting linguistic divisions and sectarian hatred is not permissible. The youth of Pakistan should strive to lead the country towards progress, not be swayed by others` opinions. Pakistanis the result of our ancestors` immense sacrifices. We must uphold it at all costs and tread the path of prosperity,` he said.

More than a thousand students, faculty members and other staff of the Hamdard University (HU), Hamdard Public School and Hamdard Village School took part in a walk from Bilawal Stadium, a stadium near their schools, to the university`s main campus to commemorate Independence Day.

The walk was led by the president of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan and the university`s chancellor, Mrs Sadia Rashid, who was accompanied by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shabibul-Hasan, Registrar Kaleem Ahmed Ghias, the deans of faculties and the principals of the two schools.

During the walk, which was the high point of severalinspiring and colourful events organised by the Hamdard group`s key educational institutions to mark the day, the participants marched behind a 40-foot square national flag especially made for the purpose.

The walk was followed by a ceremony at Madinat al-Hikmah, the main campus of the university, where the national flag was hoisted to the accompaniment of the national anthem.

Car, bike rallies Several rallies involving vintage cars, bicycles and motorbikes were also witnessed on the city roads since early morning.

The Motor Club of Pakistan conducted their 8th Freedom Drive jointly with Volkswagen Club of Pakistan. The drive, which kicked off at 9:45am, from Frere Hall, was headed by the Motor Club of Pakistan`s signature 1972 Jaguar XJ6 series-1 in national flag green colour with the country`s flag printed on its roof on the way to the Mazar-i-Quaid. It was followed by other participants in Mercedes, Fords, Chevrolets, Volkswagen Beetle, Morris Mini and Cadillacs along with heavy bikes and SUVtrucks.

Earlier, at 6:30am, Critical Mass Karachi, the largest cycling group of the city, with all its chapters, pedalled for `Ride for Sight` for the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT) from Delawala in Clifton to the Mazar-i-Quaid where the group sang the national anthem.

The Pink Riders Group from Pakistan`s first-ever female bike riding training institute also participated in the `Ride for Sight` for LRBT. The ride took place along the Sharea Faisal, from the Airport to Boat Basin at 9am.

In the afternoon, a boat rally was also arranged at the Karachi harbour by the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Pakistan Bonafide Fishermen`s Forum and the fishermen community in collaboration with the Pakistan Navy. All the boats taking part in the rally had been decorated with Pakistan flag bunting and the Pakistan flag.

Political parties also organise celebration rallies A rally from Sharea Faisal to Mazar-i-Quaid was organised by the Sindh governor Kamran Tessori which witnessed a large number of youngsters who rode over motorbikes and cars to participate in the event. It caused a severe traffic jam on the key road link.

Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P) organised an event featuring fireworks and a musical programme in North Nazimabaad which was attended by a large number of people from different parts of the city on the eve of August 14. Addressing the event, MQM-P`s Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi called it a success of his party to bring the people of Karachi together for celebrations.

A rally organised by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by its Karachi president Saeed Ghani, converged at Mazar-i-Quaid. A large number people, including women, participated in the rally. The participants carried national flags andchanted slogans.

`The people of Karachi have showed their traditional enthusiasm on this Independence Day. This year`s celebrations are also significant in the sense that the people of Karachi posed their full confidence on the PPP this year and led it to win the local bodies` eleetions,` said Mr Ghani.

A flag hoisting ceremony was organised at the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) headquarters Idara-i-Noor-i-Haq which was attended by party leaders and a large number of workers. More than a dozen rallies were organsied by the party in different districts which were attended by hundreds of people, said a JI statement.

Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) organised a cake cutting ceremony at its new party office in Ranchhore Line. Led by senior party leader Sardar Abdul Rahim, a large number of party workers and area people participated in the event.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) took out a rally from Liaquatabad to Mazar-i-Quaid which was attended by a large number of people. Led by senior TLP leader Qasim Fakhri, the rally passed through Shahra-i-Pakistan to reach its destination.

Though not organised, a large number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters, including women, took to the roads in different parts of the city, carrying national and party flags to celebrate the Independence Day.

In almost all city districts, a number of party workers and supporters were seen riding motorbikes and cars on main roads. A PTI leader said that the party didn`t mention any specific place or area for the rally. The senior leadership had appealed the workers to come out of their homes to celebrate the IndependenceDay.

`It was quite surprising that the people of Karachi responded overwhelmingly and took to the streets to express love with their motherland,` he said.