Pakistan torch relay a fiery success

Jahangir Khan, the last torchbearer in Islamabad, Pakistan, lights the waiting flame cauldron on April 16, 2008. Islamabad is the tenth stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Photo credit: Qi Heng/Xinhua)

(ISLAMABAD, April 16) -- The Pakistani leg of the 2008 global torch relay concluded successfully after the lighting of the flame cauldron in Islamabad's Jinnah Stadium on April 16.

The sacred flame arrived at the "garden city" in the very early morning hours of Wednesday to begin preparations for the relay as the 10th stop of the worldwide route.

Islamabad's first torchbearer was the "Flying Horse" Samiullah Khan, an ex-field hockey player who was part of the bronze medal winning team in the 1976 Olympic Games. After Khan took off, two young children let white doves fly into the air, symbolizing peace and harmony.

Through the hands of 65 torchbearers, the circular torch relay route concluded with Jahangir Khan, considered by many as the greatest squash player in history, lighting the flame cauldron at the stadium.

The ceremony held at the Sports Complex of the Pakistani capital was attended by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.

According to the schedule, the sacred flame will leave Islamabad late Wednesday night to head towards its next stop an approximate 2 hour flight away -- Indian capital New Delhi.