Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah Addresses ‘Battle of Truth’ Anniversary Ceremony

KARACHI (May 4): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is celebrating the “Jashn-e-Ma’raka-e-Haq” (Festival of the Battle of Truth) to mark Pakistan’s historic defensive victory and national unity in the face of Indian aggression last year.

Addressing a commemorative ceremony at a local hotel, he recalled that exactly one year ago India cast “an evil eye” on Pakistan, but the entire nation stood united in response.

“Today the Sindh government is celebrating the Festival of the Battle of Truth,” the chief minister said. “A year ago, India looked at our country with malice. Our armed forces, political leadership, media and every segment of society stood together as one.”

Murad Ali Shah said the chain of events began on April 22 last year, when India conducted a false flight operation and then tried to pin the blame on Pakistan.

“We do not want war. We are a peace-loving nation,” he said. “We told India: if you have any evidence of our involvement, share it with us. If anyone from our side is found to be involved in any wrongdoing, we will hold them responsible. But India’s plan was something else. They thought Pakistan had become a weak country.”

Mr Shah said that India failed to provide any credible evidence and instead resorted to military aggression.

“After using its border forces, India deployed its air force,” the chief minister noted. “Our air power responded forcefully – we shot down their proud Rafale jets, while their drones were brought down over our villages. India then realised that fighting Pakistan is not possible.”

Murad Ali Shah said that when India launched another round of aggression at dawn the next day, Pakistan achieved a decisive success within a matter of hours.

“This victory belonged to our armed forces, to our people and to our media,” he stressed. “The Indian media was engaged in full-scale propaganda. At one point, they even claimed that Karachi Port had been attacked. When I contacted the Naval Commander, he said there was absolutely no such thing – we were monitoring their every movement closely.”

Paying tribute to the architects of Pakistan’s defence capability, the Sindh chief minister said that former prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto played the most crucial role in making the country a nuclear power.

“On January 10, 1972, in Multan, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took the historic decision to make Pakistan a nuclear state,” he said. “Later, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto launched the missile programme to ensure the effective delivery of our nuclear capability.”

Murad Ali Shah said that in the recent conflict, Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 and J-10C fighter jets were used to shoot down Indian Rafale aircraft. “These JF-17 and J-10C jets were acquired during President Asif Ali Zardari’s first term in office,” he pointed out.

The CM also lauded Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who served as the country’s youngest foreign minister. “Bilawal Bhutto became Pakistan’s youngest foreign minister and delivered a diplomatic defeat to India,” he said. “During the Battle of Truth as well, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari presented Pakistan’s stance before the world in an excellent manner.”

Murad Ali Shah vowed that the Pakistan Peoples Party, its government, President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would never step back from defending the country.

“Pakistan’s defence is currently being led by the Chief of Defence Force, Field Marshal Asim Munir,” he said. “Who could have imagined, even a year earlier, that if the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Pakistan would step in to secure a ceasefire? Bringing senior leadership of Iran and the United States together in Islamabad was itself a major feat.”

Murad Ali Shah said Pakistan has now emerged as a central country in efforts to resolve global conflicts. “Pakistan has asserted its position in the world,” he said. “Our country will continue to play its role in bringing peace to the world.”

The Chief Minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Palestine. “We will continue to raise our voice against Israeli brutality and in favour of the just cause of Palestine,” the Sindh chief minister concluded.