Pakistan's military parade cancelled for sixth year

The joint military parade held on March 23 to mark Pakistan Day has been cancelled for the sixth consecutive year for security reasons, a media report said today.
"The joint military parade has been cancelled due to security reasons and deployment of troops at western borders engaged in the war against terrorism," a defence source was quoted as saying by the Dawn daily.
The parade used to be a regular event marking Pakistan Day, which commemorates the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and the adoption of the country's first constitution. The event displayed Pakistan's military power, folk and culture.
The parade was last held in Islamabad in 2008, when it was reviewed by Pervez Musharraf as a civilian president.

During the five-year tenure of former president Asif Ali Zardari, the parade did not take place due to security reasons.
"We evaluated the security situation and availability of troops for this huge event, and consulted concerned security agencies which advised us not to go for this parade," the defence source said.