KARACHI – Pakistan is observing Air Force Day today (Saturday) with traditional fervour and dignity to pay tribute to martyred pilots who lost their lives to defend the country in the war of 1965 against India.
The day is observed on September 7 every year. A special prayer held for eternal peace of the martyrs. The national flag hoisted and all ranks in the Pakistan Air Force troops also performed the salutation ritual.
A ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of Rashid Minhas was held in Karachi. A smartly turned out contingent of the air force presented a salute to the martyred pilot.
Air Vice Marshal Ahsan Rafique and Minhas’s brother Anjum Minhas laid f
Speaking at the ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Rafique said, the air force has proved its mettle in every battle.
On August 20, 1971, Minhas was getting ready to take off in a T-33 jet trainer in Karachi. His second solo flight in that type of aircraft. Minhas was taxiing toward the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor’s seat. The jet took off and turned toward India.
In mid-air, Rahman tried to overpower Rahman in order to prevent him from heading towards India. During the struggle, Minhas forced the plane to crash just 32 miles from the Indian border, deliberately sacrificing his life for the country.
