MANDI BAHAUDDIN: May 20, 2011. (By Gangly Khan) A large number of people including ex-servicemen, lawyers, traders,laborers peasants and relatives’ of military personnel and martyred personnel staged a rally in support of armed forces under arrangement Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society , Mandi Bahauddin. The rally started from press club and after marching through Sadar Bazar ended at Sadar Gate. Participants in the rally were holding banners inscribed with slogans in support of Armed Forces, while the participants also chanted slogans against the American intelligence agency CIA for its secret operation at Abbotbad. They eulogized and paid tributes to sacrifices of soldiers, airmen and sailors in defense of the country. Before dispersal, Sher Muhammad Gondal, Major Nasir Javed and senior veterans addressed the rally stressing that Armed Forces alone could not defend the country with out the support of people. They cited the chasm betweem masses of (former) East Pakistan and the Armed Forces that resulted in sad division of the country; accusing that similar atmosphere was being created by enemies of the Country. They said that Abbotabad episode was a scheme of enemy to tarnish image of armed forces and pit the people against them. " We will not let this happen. We stand in support of our brave soldiers. We will live and die together" they thundered They also appealed to the people not to forget sacrifices of the forces in defense of Motherland and services during natural calamities. " Defaming Armed Forces amounts to desecration of blood of our Shaheeds. Our survival lies in our solidarity with the Armed Forces. The traders welcomed and appreciated the rally march, and showered flowers petals on the rally besides garlanding the participants. Traders Association’s president Asad Qureshi, Nazar Gondal advocate and Muddasar Iqbal advocate, paid tributes to soldiers for their sacrifices and showed their complete solidarity with the Armed Forces, stressing that Armed Forces were the last hope for Nation , warning to take over those who were tryng to degrade the Army in the eyes of public.