Officially the war started on 6 Sep 1965. In Kashmir the situation had got worse much earlier. They took stand against the Indians just because of this the Indian army planned to cross the international border and attacked Pakistan.
This was stated by Justice (Retd) Mian Aftab Farrukh who vividly remembers the days when the whole nation stood united against Indian aggression. At the time of war he was a young lawyer. “I still remember on 3rd September, 1965 prominent Muslim league leader Malik Gulam Nabi’s wife died. We attended her funeral. We were there when we heard the news that India’s fighter jet had entered the boundary of Pakistan. Our PAF pilots surrounded the India’s plane and forced it to land in Pakistan. Air Chief Noor Khan took this decision.
“On 6th Sep, 1965, in morning at round about 3 am India attacked us. Pakistan army was caught unaware. We were not in position when the Indian army attacked us.
“There was peace in Lahore. That morning I got ready and went to court. I couldn’t see any panic situation. Everything was normal.
“Around 10 am, President Ayub Khan addressed the nation on radio. The President’s speech gave the nation courage and touched the people’s patriotism. I don’t remember the words exactly but he said Hindustan don’t know which nation they had dared to challenge. President Ayub khan said he had ordered the armed forces to defend the motherland and destroy the enemy.
“Everyone was confused at that time and asking each other as to what was happening. However, everything was normal and stable. After a few hours we came to know a milkman has died in the attack. Several citizens went to the border to fight against the Indians but army and police stopped them and sent them back.
“Two jet fighters were again seen in Lahore. We didn’t release at that time they could have made life horrible nightmare for us. Our Air force destroyed the Indian planes after a fierce dogfight and people heaved a sigh of relief and raised slogans of Allah-o-Akbar.
“From the Wagah border they caught our double deck bus. So, our first line of defence was the BRB Canal. First shell was dropped near Bata Factory. At that time my cousin’s husband was the General Manager of Bata and he was working in the factory at that time. He immediately took out his car and brought his children and my cousin to our house. He was big patriot. He left the family at our house and then immediately went back to Bata factory. When he went back at the Bata factory an Indian plane fired a shell on his car. The shell did not hit the car but the person was found dead. After investigation we came to know that it was a shock and sound of the shell due to which he had died. My business card was found in his pocket so people approached me and handed over his dead body.
“The war united all the people of Pakistan. People of every religion, sect and profession were united to fight against India. Madam Noor Jahan without any rehearsals was singing patriotic national songs on Radio Pakistan. She used to spend 10 to 12 hours in the studio to motivate the nation.
“Governor Nawab Kala Bagh was in Nathia Gali when he came to know about the attack. He immediately left for Lahore. Ayub Khan asked him not to go to Lahore as the city was under attack but he was adamant on going to Lahore at any cost. When he reached Lahore he called all the ministers and ordered them to drive at least 200 kilometres daily so that common people could see that they were not at home but were in action. He himself started going to secretariat from Governor House.
“I used to go to office in normal routine and also to Nawa e Waqt office during the war. After war, we friends contacted each other to know about the stories of war. One day I sat with Shafqat Baloch (Rangers head in Lahore), Mukhtar Ali Shah and Imtiaz Bhatti in Shahzan restaurant and discussed the war. Shafat Baloch received Sitara Imtiaz for his gallantry.
“I would say that this crown of the victory is due to army and entire nation who fought against enemy and defeated them. In this war the whole nation stood united and everyone gave their best,” Mr Farrukh narrated.