ISLAMABAD: The Pakistanis celebrated Eidul Azha on Saturday with great religious fervour to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) who agreed to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (AS) upon God’s command.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for well-being of Muslims and safety and security of the country.
Eid congregations were held at mosques, eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country. In their sermons, clerics highlighted significance of the day and philosophy of the sacrifice. After offering Eid prayers, the faithful are slaughtering their sacrificial animals.
The federal and provincial governments chalked out elaborate security arrangements across the country to avoid any untoward incident. Civic authorities of different cities and towns also made special arrangements for disposal of offal and other solid waste during three days of Eid.
In Islamabad, the main Eid congregation was held at the Faisal Masjid where federal ministers, advisors to the PM, members of the Senate and National Assembly, high government officials and general public offered Eid prayer.
In Punjab, Governor Malik Rafique offered Eid prayer at Governor’s House and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered his Eid prayers in his Jati Umra palace.
In Sindh, congregations of Eid prayers were held at mosques, Imambargahs and Eidgahs all over the province. The provincial government has made fool-proof arrangements to provide security on the three days of Eid and especially during the Eid prayers.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, Eid congregations were held today in more than two hundred places. The main congregation of Eid was held at Eidgah Charsadda Road, Peshawar.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra offered his Eid prayers at Governor’s House and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak offered Eid prayers in his native town Nowshera.
In Balochistan, Eid prayers were offered at hundreds of mosques, parks and open places.
The main Eid congregation was held at Eidgah Toghi Road Quetta.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, main Eid congregation was held at Markazi Eidgah where AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, offered prayers while AJK President Masood Khan offered prayers at his native town Kot Mattey Khan in Rawalakot.
In Gilgit, the prayer gatherings were held in Imamia Eidgah Jutial, Ahle Sunnat Eidgah Konodas and Shah Karim Hostel, Konodas.
Meanwhile, the president and PM in their separate messages on the occasion have urged the nation to offer special prayers for Kashmiri brethren who are struggling to get freedom from Indian occupation.
In his message, President Mamnoon Hussain said Hajj and Eid are two obligations which are based on the spirit of self-sacrifice. He said we should remember in our prayers all those who sacrificed their lives for the future of the country.
He also urged the nation to offer special prayers for Kashmiri brethren who are struggling to win freedom from India.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in his message urged people to work together for the country’s prosperity, putting aside all regional, ethnic and racial prejudices.
He said teachings of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) for sacrifice and brotherhood needs to be practice today more than ever. He advised the nation not to forget their Kashmiri brethren who have been living under Indian Occupying forces.
The prime minister said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir at every forum till they get their right to self-determination.
Published in Daily Times, September 5th 2017.
