Pakistan Nation Celebrating Eid Ul Fitr With Religious Zeal Today

Big Eid congregations were held all-over Pakistan. Special arrangements had been made to offer Eid prayer across the country including Faisal Masjid, Islamabad; Badshahi Masjid, Lahore, Memon Masjid, Karachi and Binori Town. On the occasion, special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of the country, unity of the ‘Ummah’, solution of their problems and liberation of Muslim territories, including occupied Kashmir. In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Eid congregations too place at more than 300 places.

In Islamabad, the largest congregation was held at the grand Faisal Mosque, where the high-ups of the government also offered Eid prayers. In Rawalpindi, the biggest Eid congregation was held at the historic Liaquat Bagh. Following the Eid prayers, Muslims spent their time feasting with family and friends and feeding those who are less fortunate. Sweets and other special dishes were prepared for serving the guests. People also exchanged gifts on the occasion. The government has declared Eid holidays from September 21 to 23 and paid advanced salaries to employees for enabling them to meet their Eid expenses.

On this occasion, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited has also offered a special package on Eid days to encourage people to exchange Eid greetings with their near and dear ones. The Radio and Television channels have chalked out a series of special programmes on the occasion of Eid while newspapers will publish special supplements, highlighting the significance of the day.

Immediately after the announcement that the Shawwal moon has been sighted on Sunday night, a wave of happiness surged through the masses. People swarmed the markets and Eid bazaars for shopping and women crowded the beauty parlours and shops, selling bangles and mehndi. Till late night people were busy in shopping in the markets. Meanwhile foolproof security measures have been adopted on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Policemen have been deputed outside the bazaars, shopping centres and sensitive public and private buildings. Strict security measures had also been adopted outside the ‘Eidgahs’, while police and Rangers keept patrolling. Details Thousands of Muslims offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at a ground in Karachi Monday, August. 31, 2011.’>To recap, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Tuesday that the Shawwal moon has been sighted and the faithful are to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr across Pakistan on Monay.

Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman made the announcement wherein he said the zonal committees and other witnesses have reported sighting of the moon for Shawwal-ul-Mukaram 1432 Hijri. Thus, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country on Monday, he said. The meeting was attended by Ulema and representatives of Met office.

Meetings of zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees were held in Islamabad, Quetta, and Lahore except Peshawar. Peshawar zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee said for the first time history, its members were not invited for the meeting. Earlier, the Met office had said the sky is clear, so there were good chances of sighting the moon for the month of Shawwal-ul-Mukaram.

An announcement was made by Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan on Sunday night. It said that the moon of the new Islamic month, Shawwal has been sighted and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, September 21. The announcement was made by Chairman, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, after chairing a meeting of the body on Sunday. He announced that the moon of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram has been sighted and that Shawwal 1, 1432 AH will fall on August 31 [today].

To celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, which marked the end of the holy month of Ramzan, millions of the faithful thronged mosques and open places to offer Eid prayers with respect and honour and seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah. Ulema and Khatibs delivered sermons highlighting the great importance of the day and shall urge the Muslims to follow the path of Allah and the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and fully act upon the teachings of Islam. Special prayers were offered for peace, prosperity and solidarity of the country and unity of the Ummah. Special prayers were also offered for the liberation of a part of the Himalayan State of Jammu & Kashmir from the Indian yoke as well as for the Palestinians, who are engaged in struggle to achieve their justified right for a sovereign homeland – the State of Palestine.

At the same time, people prayed for instant success of identical freedom struggles – waged by their brethren elsewhere around the globe – to accomplish their bona fide and birth right to breath in environs – free from all types of repression. With the rest of the country, the largest congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr in the capital city of Islamabad took place at the picturesque Faisal Mosque – surrounded by lush-green range of the Margala Hills at 09:00 AM where the high-ups of the government also offered Eid prayers. In Rawalpindi, the biggest Eid congregation was held at the historic Liaquat Bagh at 9:45 AM.

Likewise, millions of the faithful offered Eid-ul-Fitr at thousands of mosques and copious open spaces in all the four provinces – Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan – as well as in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, previously known as the Northern Areas. Following the Eid prayers, Muslims spent their time feasting with family and friends and feeding those who are less fortunate. Sweets and other special dishes would be prepared for serving the guests. People were also exchange gifts on the occasion.

The government has declared Eid holidays from September 21 to 23 and paid advanced salaries to employees for enabling them to meet their Eid expenses. The Meteorological Office has forecast mainly dry weather for most areas of the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. No new weather system was likely to approach the country and dry weather is likely to continue to persist during the next four days including Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Capital Territory Administration and ICT Police have made comprehensive fool-proof arrangements in the capital city to ensure safety of citizens during Eid-ul-Fitr. The city has been divided into various zones to maintain law and order and to avert any untoward incident. Special security measures have been taken for ‘Chaand Raat’ as well as Eid-ul-Fitr congregations.

 Fool-proof security arrangements are in place for the security of mosques and imambargahs. The implementation on the security plan was started in ICT and joint patrolling of area magistrate and police officers has begun. The ICT administration has deployed extra police force at all the sensitive places.Security in the markets, commercial centres, parks and public places has also been enhanced and private security guards have been directed to remain extra vigilant.