In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the 21st anniversary of the catastrophic 2005 earthquake is being observed today, paying tribute to the martyrs and expressing solidarity with the victims.

The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the high ranks of the souls of the martyrs, prosperity and development of the country, and early liberation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The main prayer ceremony was held at the University College Ground in Muzaffarabad this morning, where AJK Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gilani graced the occasion.

Addressing the event, the AJK Prime Minister said the loss of thousands of lives in the disastrous earthquake of 2005 is still fresh in our minds, but we are determined to effectively respond to any natural calamity and divert government resources in that direction.