No compromise on territorial sovereignty: Mamnoon

President Mamnoon Hussain while addressing a high-level gathering of civilian and military officials to celebrate Independence Day celebrations at the Convention Centre on Friday said Pakistan will not compromise "if there is any threat to territorial sovereignty."

The President, referred to 'undesirable incidents', and said that action is being taken against "negative, destructive elements which have tried to harm to unity of Pakistan". President Mamnoon Hussain, who was the chief guest at the event, said narrow-mindedness, extremism and terrorism are related to education. To eradicate these elements, he said, modern education must be adopted.

He said the country had been in a state of war and under threat from both internal and external forces. He praised the Pakistan Army for its sacrifices, and also mentioned the students of Peshawar's Army Public School who, he said, sacrificed their lives for the country. "Operations [against these elements] will continue," the President said adding that "The nation supports the government and Army in the fight against terrorism." He urged the audience to remember those who were forced to leave their homes because of terrorism. "We have to help them get back home and start living their lives again," he said.

He also asked the gathering to remember flood-affectees who were unable to join in the Independence Day celebrations, and said in the future there should be arrangements made to cope with floods in a more effective manner. Mamnoon said that analysts claim floods cannot be controlled without reservoirs and dams. He said that work on the Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu dams is underway, and mentioned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had recently inaugurated a dam in Balochistan.

He spoke of a need for unity against this challenge, and for a need to find a solution to the problem to limit damage by floods and water shortages.

Speaking about the country's economy, he said, "We are working with China on economic projects ... that will benefit the entire region." Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq were also present at the event, which was hosted by actors Sanam Jang and Hamza Ali Abbasi.

The country's 69th Independence day kicked off with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21 gun salutes in the provincial capitals.