KARACHI: The nation yesterday celebrated the seventh anniversary of the October Revolution by holding thanksgiving prayers at all places of worship for enabling Pakistan in inflicting a crushing defeat on the treacherous enemy.

At all mosques, churches and temples, prayers were offered for the solidarity of the country and people expressed gratitude to the Almighty for giving strength to our Armed Forces to fight the Indian aggressors. The nation paid homage to the war heroes by recounting their gallant deeds.

In Karachi, prayers were held in all mosques, Hindu temples, and churches. All Government offices and business houses remained open because of the national emergency. People worked with greater zeal and determination to make the country strong.

In the evening about 5,000 school children participated in a march-past and physical training display at Polo Ground. It was organised by the Directorate of Education. The Commissioner of Karachi took the salute. Radio Pakistan had a special programme on the occasion and newspapers came out with special supplements. Staff Correspondent [Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Paris,] People`s China yesterday [Oct 26] announced that it would not take part in the AfroAsian conference scheduled to begin in Algiers on Nov. 5, the New China News Agency said in a dispatch monitored here.

Also, in a letter to the Afro-Asian Heads of State and Government, quoted yesterday by the New China News Agency the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Chou En-lai, said China will boycott the Algiers Afro-Asian Summit if it is `forcibly convened` as scheduled on Nov 5.

The Chinese Prime Minister said that to convene the conference at present would `inevitably embroil Afro-Asian countries in serious disputes from the very beginning`. In the Chinese Government statement, the Government said the current situation was not favourable to the holding of the Second Afro-Asian Conference.