Nations who forget their martyrs and heroes perish: COAS Bajwa

Rawlapindi: Nations who forgot their martyrs and heroes perished, said Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday. 

"The great heirs of the martyrs, conquerors, general officers, officers, receipients of SI (M) and my brave soldiers, peace be upon you!," he said while addressing a ceremony held at the General Headquarters to distribute awards among the families of martyrs and survivors.

"Today we are here again to acknowledge the sacrifices of our brave soldiers who were sacrificed for the sake of our motherland. We are gathered here to pay tribute to them. This is Pakistan which is safe today."

The Army chief said this had been made possible by the blood sacrifice of these officers, JCs and soldiers, adding he always said that our real heroes were our martyrs, they were our conquerors and the nations that forgot their martyrs or heroes are the nations. 

"A martyr who is as long as the world lasts, his name will always shine. He earned his name in this world and in the hereafter. He is forgiven. He not only forgives himself but also opens the way to heaven for his heirs."

"No nation, no country can offer the sacrifice of its martyrs. No material power, wealth, money can be a substitute for his blessings. We have a responsibility to take care of the heirs of the martyrs, to take care of their families, to take care of their widows, to take care of their parents. Take care of their children, which we will do, God willing. But I believe that no care and no privilege can be a substitute for martyrdom."

"For a father, for a mother, as long as they live in this world and as long as they do not leave this world, their The child will surely come before their eyes every day, every day they will remember. A widow whose husband has passed away and whose children have lost their father's affection will also miss her and there can be no substitute for her."

"But I say that this country is alive because of your sacrifices and I salute you that because of your sacrifices Pakistan is safe today. It is the army that has Whether it is a flood, a hurricane, an earthquake or a tsunami, you will find an army everywhere. In the event of an accident, the army arrives without warning."

Gen Bajwa said Cholera had spread in many places and there was water shortage in Balochistan nowadays, but the army had reached there and was serving those people without telling him [the COAS] and was providing clean water.

"I assure the heirs of my martyrs that insha'Allah you will never be disappointed," Bajwa vowed.

-- GHQ Investiture ceremony -- 

The GHQ Investiture ceremony was held at the General Headquarters Rawalpindi, said a press release issued by the ISPR.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) conferred military awards to Army personnel for their acts of gallantry during operations and meritorious services rendered to the nation.

Families of Shuhada also attended the ceremony. 48 officers were awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military). 7 officers, 3 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and 30 Soldiers were awarded Tamgha-i-Basalat. Medals of Shuhada were received by their family members. A large number of senior Army officers and families of awardees attended the ceremony.