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Pakistani Nation celebrates Eid with solemnity, simplicity
ISLAMABAD Nov 05 : Pakistani Nation on Friday celebrated Eid-ul- Fitr with solemnity and simplicity to express solidarity with victims of devastating earthquake in Kashmir and NWFP.
The faithful thronged to Eidgahs, mosques and other open places to offer prayers and seek Allah Almighty's blessings and assistance for early recovery of earthquake affected people.
Special prayers were offered for the country's prosperity and solidarity with a renewed pledged to revive the great principles of Islamic brotherhood and fraternity. Ulema and Khateebs highlighted importance of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak in their Eid sermons and called upon people to extend maximum assistance to their calamity hit brethren.
They also prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and an early recovery and rehabilitation of the injured or displaced.
President General Pervez Musharraf offered Eid prayers at Army Stadium Rawalpindi, where senior military officials and citizens joined in praying for lasting peace for those who lost their lives.
Later, the President visited Muzaffarabad and Balakot and met with the earthquake affected people and assured all out help for their rehabilitation.
In Balakot, the President also met with newly married couple at Balakot, who got married at their tent abode and presented them gifts. First Lady, Begum Sehba Musharraf gifted a set of gold ornaments to the bride.
During the visit, the President also announced Rs 2000 each as Eidee for students of the school established by Pakistan Army. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz offered the Eid prayers with the earthquake affected people of Azad Kashmir and NWFP settled at the H-11 tent village in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister reiterated the pledge to rehabilitate the survivors of earthquake bringing normalcy in their lives and said, the entire nation from Karachi to Khyber is united in expressing solidarity and showing sympathies with their brethren and sisters.
He distributed Eid gifts among the children and went inside several tents to enquire about health of the affected people.
Eid-ul-Fitr was also celebrated with solemnity and serenity at the Provincial Headquarters and other cities across the country with a renewed pledge to continue support of the calamity hit people of Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
Special prayers were for stability, solidarity and prosperity of the country and well being of the people. Largest Eid congregation in the federal capital was held at the Faisal Mosque while large congregations of Eid in Rawalpindi were held at Liaqat Bagh, Jamia Mosque, Central Eidgah and Army Stadium Ground.
Largest Eid congregation in Lahore was held at historic Badshahi Mosque where Governor Punjab, Lt.Gen.(R) Khalid Maqbool, some provincial ministers and officials offered eid prayer.
The faithful prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and early recovery of the injured of the earthquake. In Karachi, the largest Eid congregation was held at Bagh-e-Jinnah (Old Polo Ground). Sindh Governor, Dr.Ishrat Al Abad and diplomats from different muslim countries offered the Eid prayer.
Eid-ul-Fitr was also offered with simplicity in NWFP and the followers prayed for well being of the earthquake affected people. NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani offered Eid prayer at Bassiyan village in Balakot and distributed relief cheques and gifts among the people.
In Balochistan as well, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with simplicity. The faithful prayed for well being of the earthquake affected people.
President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan and Prime Minister, Sardar Sikandar Hayat offered the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers here at Shaukat Line Police Ground on Friday.
Parliamentary Leader of MQM in the National Assembly, Farooq Sattar, couple of Federal Ministers, five Punjab Provincial Ministers, several film actors, volunteers and a large number of people also offered Eid prayers in Muzaffarabad to express solidarity and sympathy with Kashmiri people.
Armed forces of Pakistan also celebrated the Eid with simplicity and offered dua for the departed souls. Chariman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan Ul Haq, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hyat and other senior Army Officers visited army hospitals and met with the injured patients under treatment there.
Special Eid gift packs were distributed among patients admitted to Military Hospitals at Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Abbottabad, Murree, Mangla, Jhelum, Kharian, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore.
Later, General Ahsan Saleem Hyat visited Nauseri and Chakoti the earthquake areas in Azad Kashmir. He met with the troops busy in relief operations and appreciated their commitment.
Security was beefed up in federal capital and other places across the country to thwart any untoward incident. The law enforcing agencies had chalked out a comprehensive security plan and heavy contingents of the police were deployed at sensitive areas, worship places and busy markets besides deputing special patrolling teams.