?Pakistani students wave national flags during a ceremony at the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah to mark the country's Independence Day in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Aug. 14, 2018. Pakistan got independence from the British colonial rule on Aug. 14, 1947 after a heroic struggle under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. (Xinhua/Masroor)
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday paid homage to security personnel who have scarified lives in the war against terrorism, saying that their sacrifices have eliminated the scourge of terrorism in the country.
The president was addressing the national flag hoisting ceremony in the capital Islamabad as part of the Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan.
Pakistan got independence from the British colonial rule on Aug. 14, 1947 after a heroic struggle under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
The day dawned with a 31 gun salute in the Federal Capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial headquarters.
The main feature of the celebrations was the national flag hoisting ceremony in Islamabad. Mamnoon Hussain and caretaker Prime Minister Nasir ul Mulk joined hands to hoist the flag at a ceremony attended by diplomats, lawmakers, military and civil officials and important personalities.
President Hussain mentioned the parliamentary elections held on July 25 and said that despite terrorist attacks, the elections were held with the full participation of the people.
Deadly terrorist attacks in southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces killed nearly 200 people, including three candidates in July. The Taliban and Islamic State group had claimed the attacks.
The president noted that this year the general elections coincided with the Independence Day.
"This also envisages a message that the decisions in the country which was achieved through a democratic struggle will also be taken through the power of vote," he said.
"I want to remember and pay homage to all those who sacrificed lives for the country and the system. Terrorists could not break the will of the people," the president said.
He also called for peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute with India in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.
