Pledge to fight Internal,External Threats
‘By Aziz Malik ‘Pakistan Times’ Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with religious fervour, zeal and a pledge to forge greater unity to fight internal and external threats.

Eid congregations were held across Pakistan, attended by millions of people to thank Allah Almighty for his favors and to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).

Ulema, religious scholars and prayer leaders delivered special sermons and lectures to highlight the significance of the day, and called upon the Muslims to follow the teachings of Islam.

In their sermons, they urged the people to rise above petty differences and stand united to confront all threats and work together to bring peace and prosperity in the country.

President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers at the Army Ground and prayed for the prosperity, progress, strength and stability of Pakistan, its people and unity of the Ummah.

The President was joined by a large number of senior military and civil officials and the general public.

President General Pervez Musharraf offered Eid prayers at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi and exchanged greetings with the people.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz offered the Eid ul Azha prayers at the Faisal Mosque in the federal capital along with diplomats and tens of thousands of people.

Both the leaders prayed for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and well-being of the Muslim Ummah and urged the nation to forge unity in their rank and fine to make the country invincible against the internal and external threats.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on President Musharraf and exchanged greetings with him on the auspicious occasion.

The President also received a number of capital-based diplomats from Islamic, Asian, Western and other countries and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

Governors, Chief Minister and other important government and non-government dignitaries offered Eid in their respective areas and provinces.

Every Pakistani pledged devotion and commitment to motherland on this day and prayed for progress, prosperity and peace of the nation.

Eid-ul-Azha commemorates the great spirit of sacrifice manifested by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) in obeyance of the Allah Almighty’s dictate.

This festival also teaches Muslims the great message of sacrifice, loving mankind and sharing their joys with the poor and needy in line with the teachings of Islam and the Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Civic organizations had made arrangements for ensuring cleanliness and to remove the offal of the sacrificial animals.

District administrations and the police across the country had taken stringent security measures to thwart any untoward incident and armed police personnel were deputed at all places of Eid congregations.

Hundreds of organizations working for the welfare of destitute women and children, had set up points to collect hides.

The Capital Development Authority had made special arrangements to ensure cleanliness of the city by collecting offals of sacrificial animals.

Exchanges Eid Greetings

President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday exchanged Eid greetings with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, prominent personalities including diplomats, senior civil and military officials here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

President Musharraf after offering Eid prayers at the Army Ground in Rawalpindi went to the President House. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on the President and exchanged eid greetings.

Chairman Joint Chief of the Staff Committee General Ehsan ul Haq, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad and Vice Chief of the Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, along with their wives exchanged greetings with the President and Begum Sehba Musharraf.

The President and Begum Sehba Musharraf later met the diplomats based in Islamabad, federal and state ministers, parliamentarians, senior civil and military officials and prominent personalities from different walks of life and exchanged eid greetings.

During the reception the guests also wished a Happy New Year to the President, that has coincided with the Eid-ul-Azha.

The President attired in a black sherwani mingled with the guests and enquired about their welfare. The guests were also served with light refreshments and sweets, a tradition of eid celebrations.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Shaukat on Monday exchanged eid greetings with prominent personalities including diplomats, senior civil and military officials here at the Prime Minister House.The Prime Minister offered Eid ul Azha prayers at Faisal Mosque also offered special prayers for the solidarity, prosperity and progress of the country, welfare of the people and strength of the Muslim Ummah.

Chairman Joint Chief of the Staff Committee General Ehsan ul Haq, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad and Vice Chief of the Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hayat visited Prime Minister House to exchange greetings with the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister later met the diplomats based in Islamabad, federal and state ministers, parliamentarians, senior civil and military officials and prominent personalities from different walks of life, leaders and workers of Pakistan Muslim League and other allied parties and exchanged eid greetings.

A reception was organised by the Prime Minister in honour of the guests on this occasion in which common people who came to Prime Minister House exchanged eid greetings and wished a Happy New Year to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister attired in a white sherwani mingled with the guests and enquired about their welfare.

The guests were also served with light refreshments and sweets, on this auspicious occasion of Eid ul Azha.

In-depth

Pakistan celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with traditional zeal and religious fervour on Monday (today) in Islamabad and all four provincial capitals as well as in interior Sindh and other districts of Punjab, NWFP and Balchistan.

After Eid prayers, cows, goats and other animals were sacrificed to revive the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

Muslims thronged to mosques and Eidgahs in the morning to offer Eid prayers across the country.

Special prayers were offered for strengthening national solidarity, prosperity, integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and the liberation of all occupied Muslim territories, including Jammu and Kashmir.

The biggest Eid congregation in the federal capital was held at the Shah Faisal mosque. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz offered Eid prayers at Shah Faisal mosque, while President Musharraf offered prayers in Rawalpindi.

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal, Muslim diplomats in Karachi, government officials, political leaders and city notables offered Eid prayers at Polo Ground in Karachi.

Eid prayers in Lahore were held at all key mosques, open grounds and Eidgahs.

In Quetta Eid congregations were held at over 300 places. Balochistan Governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and other top officials of the province offered Eid prayers at Central Eidgah Toghi Road. Naib Nazim City Manzoor Ahmed Kakar offered Eid prayer in Kansi Eidghah; whereas, other political personages offered Eid Prayer at Science College, Eidghah, Railway Hockey Ground and Ayub Stadium.

In interior Sindh areas of Hyderabad, Lateefabad, Qasimsabad, and other parts, the large congregations for Eid Prayer were held.

The biggest Eid Prayer congregations were held in Eidgah Ranibagh and Cantt Ranibagh Ground, where district Nazim Kanwar Naveed, Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput and members of National and Provincial assemblies came to offer Eid prayers.

In Sukkar, the large gathering for Eid Prayers were held in Eidgah, Jiinnah Municipal Stadium, Railway Ground and Jamia Masjid.

Prominent personalities including federal ministers Ghous Bakhsh Khan Mahar, Justice (Retd) Abdul Razzak Thaheem, MPA Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, District Nazim Sukkur Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, MPA Dr. Nasrullah Baloch and Taluka Nazim Sukkur Muhammad Naeem Siddiqui offered Eid prayers at Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Sukkur respectively.

In Mirpur Khas areas of Satellite Town No. 2 Ground, Railway Parade Form, Chandni Chowk and central Eidgah and other masques and imambargh, the Eid prayers were offered.

In Punjab, big Eid-prayer gatherings were held in more than 200 small and large mosques including Eid Gah Khanewal road, Eid Gah cantonment, Suraj Miani, Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, Jamia Khairul Madaris, Madarsah Qasimul Uloom, Madarsah Anwaarul Uloom, Masjid Omar Bin Khatab, Mumtazabad, Abdali Masjid, Railway ground, Shah Gardez, Masjid Haidriya, and MCC ground.

In Faisalabad areas of Dhobi Ghat Ground, Jamia Masjid Bilal, Jamia Masjid Kachehry Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Jhang Bazaar and other parts of the city, Eid prayers were offered and the sacrifices of animals were offered.

In Jhang areas of Jamia Masjid Porani Eidgah, New Eidghah Jhang Saddar, Ehrar Park, District Headquarter Hospital Jhang, Islamia High School and Satellite Town Eidghah, Eid Prayer was offered.

Sialkot, Muzzaffargarh, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahimyar Khan, Pakpattan, Kasur, Rajanpur, Sahiwal, Attock, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Okarah other district of Punjab, large Eid prayer gatherings were held

In Peshawar, also on the second day of Eid here, the gatherings for Eid prayer were organized. The biggest of gatherings was held in Col. Sher Khan Stadium where Chief Justice Tariq Pervez offered Eid prayer. He, as an acting governor of NWFP, met people in Governor House. In tribal areas of Parachanar, the Eid prayer was offered and the animals were sacrificed.

Security was beefed up on the occasions of Eid prayer gatherings and high alert was maintained by the police backed up by law enforcing agencies.

In Turbat, the biggest gathering was held in Central Jamia Masjid as well as in Hub, Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Jafferabad, Kohlu. Lasbelah, Mustang, Chaghi, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Qalat, Kharan and other districts, eid prayer gatherings were held.