MIRPUR (AJK) - Seventh anniversary of deadly earthquake of October 8, 2005 was observed across Azad Jammu Kashmir to pay rich tributes to the martyrs and other victims of the catastrophe that affected millions of people in the region.
The anniversary was observed as the national disaster awareness day. The day was also marked as the 'day of determination' for reconstruction and in memory of earthquake martyrs.
It was a public holiday across Azad Jammu Kashmir on the occasion. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques at Fajr across Azad Jammu Kashmir for the departed souls of the earthquake victims.
In Mirpur, a special prayers meeting was held at the Conference Hall of DC office under the auspices of National Events Organizing Committee Mirpur (NEOC) to pay glorious tributes to the martyrs of deadly earthquake of October 8, 2005. NEOC Chairman Masoodur Rehman presided over the meeting.
The speakers including Mirpur DC Masoodur Rehman, Vice Chairman Amjad Iqbal Ch, renowned social worker Sohail Shujah Mujahid, SSP Mirpur Ch Munir Hussain, Press Clubs President Syed Abid Hussain Shah, former AJKCCI president Javed Iqbal Chaudhry and others highlighted the untiring efforts of the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, international donors and the NGO for the rehabilitation of earthquake affectees.
The meeting offered fateha for those died in the deadly catastrophe besides praying for keeping the nation and the country safe from any further natural disaster.
Sirens were blown at 8:52am and two minutes silence was observed in the morning in memory of the victims of the catastrophe. The day was observed not only to pay glorious tributes to the martyrs of the earthquake and early rehabilitation of the other quake victims but also to raise awareness among the masses as how to deal and face natural catastrophe with patience and all other required practical means.
Major ceremonies to observe the anniversary were held in quake-hit capital city of Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot which were attended, among others by Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister as well as members his cabinet colleagues, members of both houses of  the AJK Parliament, social and political workers, workers of NGOs and general public.
Similar ceremonies including rallies, seminars and symposiums were also held in various other parts of AJK in the memory of the martyrs of the devastating quake which left over 73,000 people dead and lakhs of others injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.