LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Lahore President Faisal Mir on Friday led a massive public rally in Johar Town, expressing full solidarity with the Pakistan Army and celebrating what he described as a historic national victory, as thousands of workers, students, lawyers, traders and labourers took to the streets in a show of unity and patriotism.

 

Addressing the "Maarka-e-Haq" (Battle of Truth) rally, Faisal Mir credited President Asif Ali Zardari with uniting political forces and national institutions at a critical time, saying that his leadership had rallied the entire nation behind the armed forces. He also praised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his role as Foreign Minister, saying that through visits to world capitals, Bilawal had successfully countered the Indian narrative at every international forum and repositioned Pakistan as a responsible and effective global power.

 

Paying tribute to the party's founding figures, Faisal Mir said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's nuclear programme had made Pakistan impregnable, ensuring no enemy could ever impose its will on the country, while Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's defence policies and promotion of missile technology had further fortified national security. He added that during President Zardari's tenure, enhanced defence cooperation with China gave rise to the JF-17 Thunder, which he described as a cornerstone of Pakistan's modern air power.

 

Faisal Mir reserved special praise for Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying that his courageous leadership and sound strategy had delivered a decisive blow to the enemy and united the nation. He said that the PPP salutes every soldier, officer, martyr and veteran, pledging that the party would stand alongside the armed forces on every front. He concluded his address with the slogans of "Pakistan Zindabad, Pak Fauj Paindabad, Jiye Bhutto."

 

Speaking to the media on the sidelines, senior PPP leader Majeed Ghori described President Asif Ali Zardari as the architect of Pakistan's democratic stability and national reconciliation, saying that his patience, wisdom and politics of reconciliation had placed the democratic system on firm foundations and that he had always prioritised national interest over personal gain. Ghori also highlighted Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's 16-month tenure as Foreign Minister, saying that his diplomatic outreach brought an end to Pakistan's international isolation and earned the country recognition as a responsible, peaceful and dignified state, with Pakistan now being seen as an important mediator on the global stage.

 

Both leaders paid glowing tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying his decisions rooted in national honour had strengthened and united the country at its most critical hour. They said the nation salutes its brave armed forces, martyrs and veterans who made immense sacrifices in defence of the motherland. They further stated that the successful defensive operation "Bunyan ul Marsoos" had raised the nation's head with pride and buried the enemy's sinister designs, once again proving that the defence of Pakistan is in invincible hands.

 

Faisal Mir reaffirmed that the PPP has always stood for national security, democracy and public unity, warning the enemy that the Pakistani nation would never compromise on its defence, freedom and sovereignty. Majeed Ghori added that Pakistan's labourers, workers and common people stand with their armed forces like a wall of steel, describing "Bunyan ul Marsoos" as not merely a military achievement but a powerful symbol of national unity, faith, sacrifice and patriotism.

 

A military band performed at the rally, which was also attended by prominent PPP leaders including Afraz Naqvi, Hassan Ashraf Bhatti, Fayyaz Bhatti, Munir Dagran, Shahzada Naeem Raza, Mian Shahid Abbas, Khurram Farooq, Manzar Abbas Khokhar, Tariq Saeed Jatt, Amir Naseer Butt and Rao Shujaat, along with Maqsuma Bukhari, Nargis Khan and Agha Taqi.