AJK University holds special prayer ceremony to remember quake victims

MUZAFFARABAD, October 8: Marking the sixteenth anniversary of the tragic earthquake in AJK on October 8, 2005, a special prayer ceremony was held at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) to pay tribute to the victims of the catastrophe, which claimed the lives of thousands of people.

At least 200 students and six faculty members of the university were among the 87,350 killed in the severest earthquake that hit the region on this day, sixteen years ago in 2005.

The ceremony held at Yadgar -e- Shuahada in the City Campus of the university was attended by the Registrar of the University Prof. Dr. Ayesha Sohail, Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Associate Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Bashir-ur-Rehman Kanth, Deputy Registrar, Sardar Zafar Iqbal, Prof. Dr. Wajid Aziz Lone, Dr. Nazneen Habib, Chief Librarian Prof. Dr. Nadeem Haider Bukhari, heads of departments, faculty members, university Officers and a large number of the university employees.

Speaking on the occasion, the Registrar of the university, Prof. Dr. Ayesha Sohail while paying homage to the sacrifices of teachers, students, and employees who were martyred in the earthquake said that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

She said that the earthquake of October 8, 2005, severely damaged the university as more than 200 students, six faculty members, and staff died in this disaster. The City Campus of the university, which was completely destroyed was rebuilt with generous assistance from the Turkish government, and the King Abdullah Campus at Chattar Class Constructed by the Saudi Arabia government, she added.

She went on to say that these two landmark projects completed after the earthquake will continue to be remembered as a symbol of everlasting friendship among the two brotherly countries and the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza said on the occasion that the tragedy of October 8 was a test by Allah Almighty and we all should keep on praying to Allah to save us from such tragedies in the future.

The Associate Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Bashir-ur-Rehman Kanth in his speech said that the memories of the tragedy of October 8 will always be fresh in our minds. He also paid tributes to the armed forces of the country, national and international NGOs, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Pakistani nation for extending unprecedented help to the affected people of AJK in the wake of one of the worst tragedies in recorded history.