990401

Eid celebrated

with religious

fervour, zeal

ISLAMABAD: Nation celebrated Eid-ul-Azha across the country and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Hazart Ibrahim (AS) with religious fervour and zeal.

The day dawned with the special prayers at mosques to invoke the blessings of Allah Almighty and seek His mercy.

The faithful, accompanied by their children and dear ones thronged to the mosques and Eidgahs throughout the country and Azad Kashmir and offered Eid prayers.

The faithful also offered prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and for the liberation of the occupied lands including Palestine and Kashmir, and solution to problems facing the Muslim Ummah, particularly in Kosovo.

After Eid prayers, people started slaughtering animals including camels, cows goats and sheep in commemoration of Sunnat of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

In the federal capital, the biggest Eid congregation was held at the Faisal Mosque where President Rafiq Tarar offered Eid prayers along with AJK President Muhammad Ibrahim, Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, parliamentarians, ambassadors of the Muslim countries and high-ranking officials.

Later, the Rafiq Tarar exchanged Eid greetings with the three Services chiefs, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. He also received the diplomats and high ranking government officials at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and exchanged greetings.

President Tarar also met a large number of destitute and poor, received applications about their grievances and distributed 'Eidi' among the needy.

In Rawalpindi, major Eid congregations were held at Markazi Jamia Masjid, Liaquat Bagh, Pirwadahi, Race Course Ground, Jamia Islamia in Saddar and Dispensary Ground in Tenchbhata.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered Eid prayers at Raiwind.

Other members of their family including their father Mian Mohammad Sharif also offered Eid prayers at Raiwind.

Later, the Prime Minister freely mixed with the people and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

Nawaz Sharif also received applications from some people who came to Raiwind to offer prayers and issued on-the-spot orders on some of them.

He on Monday also exchanged Eid greetings with general public at the Governor House, Lahore.

The prime minister exchanged Eid greetings continuously for 90 minutes with thousands of people from different walks of life from across over the country.

LAHORE

Eid-ul-Azha, commemorating Sunnah-e-Ibrahimi (A.S) was celebrated in Lahore with religious fervour and enthusiasm with the faithful renewing pledge to safeguard national integrity and ideology besides making country a real Islamic welfare state.

Eid prayers were offered at more than 500 open places and mosques in the city with the biggest Eid congregation was held at the historic Badshahi mosque while Masjid Data Darbar, Muslim Mosque, Lohari Gate, Masjid-e-Shuhada and other mosques attracted sizeable crowds.

Delivering Eid sermons, Imams and Khateebs highlighted the importance of Eid-ul-Azha and explained its basic philosophy.

KARACHI

Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated in Karachi on Monday with religious zeal and enthusiasm.

The faithful in large numbers attended congregations for Eid prayers at mosques and specially arranged Eidgahs.

Sindh Governor Lt. General (Retd) Moinuddin Haider offered Eid prayers at Old Polo Ground and the prayers were largely attended by people drawn from various walks of life. The Governor exchanged Eid greetings with the people present there.

NWFP

Eid-ul-Azha was also celebrated in NWFP on Monday with religious zeal and zest.

NWFP Chief Minister Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan offered Eid prayer at Markazi Eidgah, Abbottabad.

The Chief Minister along with hundred of other faithful also offered special prayers for the unity, integrity and well-being of the people and progress of the country and the province.

SUKKUR

Eid-ul-Azha was also celebrated Monday in Sukkur with religious fervour and enthusiasm.

Hundreds of thousands of the Faithful celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with traditional religious fervour and devotion.

Over 500 mosques and main Eidgahs in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Rohri and other towns were packed to capacity where the faithful offered Eid prayers.

Biggest Eid congregations were held at Markaz, Shikarpur Road, Gulshan Eidgah, Municipal Stadium, and Jamia Mosque Bunder Road, where intensive security arrangements had been made by the local authorities.

National Assembly Speaker Illahi Bukhsh Soomro, Pir of Pagaro, Federal Education Minister Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Deputy leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, offered Eid prayers at Jacobabad, Pir Goth, Garhi Mori and Sukkur respectively.

HYDERABAD

Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated in Hyderabad. The main congregations, were held at Thandi Sarak Eid Gah, Cantonment Eid Gah, Jamia Mosque Cantonment, Madina Mosque Siro Ghat, Masjid Abul-Fazal Abbas Qadam Gah Moula Ali, Mehfil-e-Hussaini and Karbala Dadan Shah.

BALOCHISTAN

Eid-ul-Azha was also celebrated in Balochistan Azad Kashmir, Northern Areas on Monday with traditional enthusiasm, and religious fervour on Monday like other parts of the country.

Ulema and Khatibs in their Eid sermons, highlighted the significance of the day and the supreme sacrifices of Hazrat Ibrabim (AS).

They called upon the people to follow the principles of Islam, shun their differences, forge unity, and final the nefarious designs of anti-Muslim forces.

Special prayers were also offered for peace, prosperity, integrity and solidarity of the country and for the success of struggle of the people of occupied Kashmir.ÑAPP