Islamabad, April 16
A man hailing from the birth place of Guru Nank yesterday became the first Sikh in Pakistan to be commissioned into the army.Wearing a blue turban and sporting a traditional beard, Hercharan Singh of Nanakana Sahib, marched to the military tunes at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and was formally commissioned into the army at a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
“I am proud to be a Pakistani and to join the Pakistani army,” state run APP quoted Harcharan Singh as saying.
Being the eldest son, his mother was initially hesitant to send him for military training. “But now she is proud of me,” he said.
He had earlier joined the National College of Arts, but opted to serve as an officer in the army later. The Pakistani armed forces have some Christian officers but Harcharan Singh is the first Sikh.
Addressing the
parade, Mr Aziz said Pakistan was opposed to arms race in the region and was pursuing a national security strategy to secure its national integrity, solidarity and economic sovereignty.
Stressing that the Kashmir issue should be resolved, he said, “all of us need to demonstrate courage, flexibility, magnanimity and above all passion for a solution.”
— PTI
