Martyred Lieutenant Yasir Abbas laid to rest

Shaheed is a term that is not new for Pakistanis since the ongoing war on terror in the country had showered this honour on a number of country’s officers, cadets and personnel of the armed forces. However, despite the numerous sacrifices on our part, what we get in return is suicide attacks on citizens and now on the country’s armed forces. This is in reference to the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran in Karachi on Sunday.

Lieutenant Yasir Abbas was martyred in the line of duty while fighting the terrorists during the attack. He led a group of armed personnel that made major contributions in retaliatory operation against the terrorists and proved that he was the real follower of Hazrat Ali (AS) as he sacrificed his life for the sake of the country.

A group of American backed Wahabi terrorists had entered the naval air station and started targeting equipments, damaging two P-3C Orion Surveillance aircrafts. Yasir was among the first to encounter the terrorists raiding the base and foiled their attempt to destroy navy planes. The Shaheed Yasir Abbas promptly challenged the terrorists and naval officials said that his timely action averted further destruction of naval facilities.

Yasir’s funeral was offered at Askari 10 housing society on Tuesday led by the local Shia cleric of Lahore. Punjab Governor Latif Khosa, Punjab provincial ministers, Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant General Rashid Mehmood, Navy Station Commander Akbar Naqi and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhud attended the funeral prayers. A large number of people from various walks of life attended the funeral prayers and paid rich tributes to the young slain navy officer who defended the country by sacrificing his life. After the funeral, the coffin was brought to the graveyard in Askari 10. Wrapped in the national flag, the body was lowered into the grave in the presence of Yasir’s father, other relatives, and his fellow officers at PNS Mehran. A contingent of Pakistan Navy presented the guard of honour.

While talking to Daily Times, Yasir’s father, Jaffar Abbas, said that he hoped his son’s martyrdom would not go waste and that it would be a harbinger of peace and happiness in the country.

Meanwhile, Yasir’s mother Saba Jaffar said that she was proud of her martyred son. “He always wished for and wanted to earn the honour of shahadat,” she said.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has recommended the name of Shaheed Lieutenant Yasir Abbas for Nishan-e-Haider and forwarded it to President Asif Ali Zardari. Shaheed Lieutenant Yasir Abbas embraced martyrdom while heading the Navy rapid force in an operation against terrorists at the PNS Mehran base late Sunday night.Of the 10 recipients of Nishan-e-Haider, nine are from the Pakistan Army and one recipient is from the Pakistan Air Force. As yet there have been no recipient of Nishan-e-Haider from the Pakistan Navy, when and if President Asif Ali Zardari confers it on Shaheed Lieutenant Yasir Abbas, he will be the first recipient of the highest military award from the Pakistan Navy.

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