QUETTA: Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai inaugurated here on Sunday a week-long Balochistan Sports Festival as part of Pakistan Day celebrations.

A colourful and impressive ceremony was held at the Ayub Stadium to mark the opening of the festival.

Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Mohammad Naseer Khan Janjua, provincial Sports Minister Mir Mujibur Rehman Mohammad Hasni, Frontier Corps Inspector General Maj Gen Sher Afgun, Balochistan IG Mohammad Amlish Khan, consuls general of Afghanistan and Iran, provincial ministers and a large number of people belonging to different walks of life attended the ceremony.

Tight security arrangements were in place. The entire stadium was decorated with the national flag and colourful buntings. Over 2,400 players, 400 girls among them, from across the province will take part in different events.

The inaugural ceremony included cultural shows, folk songs and dances.

Governor Achakzai said Pakistan was the result of heroic struggle of millions of Muslims of the subcontinent and great sacrifices rendered by them. “Pakistan Day is a day of happiness and celebrations of the emergence of a separate homeland of the Muslims of the subcontinent.”

He said the Baloch and Pakhtuns of Balochistan had played a significant role in the freedom movement. “We pay rich tribute to the leaders of the Pakistan Movement. Because of their struggle and sacrifices, we are living in an independent and sovereign country,” he said.

March 23, he said, was a day to review the progress made by the nation. Unfortunately, he added, the country had been pushed towards sectarian and other types of violence in the name of Islam. “Even innocent children have been turned into ‘walking bombs’ by terrorists,” he regretted.

But, the governor said, the dark night of terrorism had ended and now “we have been enjoying and celebrating the sports festival in connection with Pakistan Day”.

He said President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif had paid several visits to Balochistan and held meetings with local notables and tribal elders to restore trust and confidence.

He praised the army for its role in development of Balochistan. “The people of Balochistan are with the army and thankful to the federal and provincial governments for launching major development projects in the province,” he said.

Lt Gen Naseer Janjua said: “The sun of peace has risen in Balochistan whose people are as patriotic as the people of other provinces.”

He said Pakistan was a blessing of God and people would have to root out every kind of terrorism and sectarianism to make it a peaceful country. He said the militants who surrendered had in fact refused to kill innocent people.

Published in Dawn March 23rd , 2015

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