129 th PMA Passing out Parade
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge 1, Rawalpindi
It was really refreshing for an old soldier of the 7 th PMA Long Course - commissioned February 1953 - and later PMA Ghaznavi Company Commander (1967-69) to watch the 129 th passing out parade of the PMA Kakul this morning. Many an old memory was revived so vividly as if the 61 long years in between never existed! Much has changed at the Rafiullah Drill Square since and pleasantly for the better too.
The mere size of the smartly turned out parade – about 1200 cadets now against some 300 then – was highly impressive. The Chief Guest, Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef, was in his best and looked highly dignified and graceful. He had some very laudatory words for the army, its martyred heroes of the past decorated with the coveted Nishan e Haider, its present leadership like COAS Gen. Raheel Sharif - a soldier, dedication-personified - and the army’s important role in defending the integrity of the country with the entire nation at its back. It was, as a matter of fact, highly reassuring and satisfying to hear such words from the Prime Minister and see the army and the ruling elite to be on the same page. Nothing could be more heart-warming than this show of mutual respect which is the paramount need of the hour.
Incidentally, I believe there are female cadets also at the Academy but I couldn’t see them taking part in the parade! Why?
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