PM Shehbaz, COAS attend funeral of martyred Christian soldier

The funeral service of Sepoy Haroon William, a 29-year-old resident of Islamabad, was held on Saturday at Saint Paul’s Church, Rawalpindi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sepoy William, a devoted Christian soldier, made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the motherland and embraced martyrdom in Kurram District yesterday while on duty in counter terrorism operations.

The funeral ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence Minister, Interior Minister, Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Chief of Army Staff, senior civil and military officers, soldiers, citizens, and relatives of the martyr, said a statement issued by the ISPR.

The Prime Minister praised the contributions and sacrifices of the Christian fraternity, lauding their role in the country's progress. He emphasized that the Armed Forces of Pakistan are a cohesive unit, comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds, striving for the collective defence of the state.

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), honoured the sacrifice of Sepoy Haroon William, Sepoy Anosh Rufun, and their comrades, stating that their unity and bravery exemplify the strength of the nation. He reaffirmed that the nation will always be indebted to their services and sacrifices for the honour of the motherland.

Sepoy Haroon William was laid to rest with full military honours in Rawalpindi. Funeral prayers for Havildar Aqeel Ahmed (Okara), Lance Naik Muhammad Tafeer (Poonch), Sepoy Anosh Rufun (Attock), and Sepoy Muhammad Azam Khan (Haripur) were also held in their respective hometowns with full military honours.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan remain resolute and committed to eradicating terrorism from the motherland at all costs.

 Armed forces striving for country’s defence: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of security personnel in the war on terrorism. In his remarks on the occasion of funeral service of Sepoy Haroon William, he said the blood rendered by the security personnel will not go in vain.

He said history of armed forces of Pakistan is full of such great sacrifices and there is no precedence of it in the contemporary world.

The Prime Minister recognized the services of minorities including christians, hindus and Sikhs in diverse fields.He said they are also rendering services in different wings of the armed forces. He especially mentioned the contributions of Christian community in the field of education.

Shehbaz Sharif said all the citizens of the country enjoy equal rights under the country's constitution and they have every right to excel in the fields of their choice.  He said Pakistan will be transformed into a welfare state as espoused by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal through collective efforts.

He emphasized the importance of promotion of tolerance and harmony in order to take the country forward.

Reporter Ahmad Mansoor