Pakistan marked the 60th anniversary of its independence from British rule Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. In the capital, Islamabad, 31 artillery guns boomed at daybreak, marking the start of ceremonies to celebrate Aug. 14, 1947, when independence was granted by British colonial rulers and the subcontinent was partitioned into Pakistan and India. Military cadets held a ceremony at the domed mausoleum of Quaid-e-Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founder, in Karachi, the country's largest city. Flag-raising ceremonies and more 21-gun salutes also occurred in the four provincial capitals. The independence celebrations fall as Pakistan heads toward presidential and legislative elections. In a statement marking the anniversary, the president urged Pakistanis to reject extremism at the coming elections. «I urge all Pakistani citizens to get involved in the electoral process and become the instruments of enlightened moderation in their beloved country,» Musharraf said.
