By Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated across Pakistan today [Saturday] with religious zeal and fervour.
Big Eid congregations were held across the country at mosques, parks, open places, Imambargahs and Eidgahs in all cities, towns and villages. The main such congregation in the federal capital Islamabad was held at the Faisal Masjid where President Arif Alvi and high officials and envoys of Muslim countries offered Eid prayers.
The ulema in their sermons highlighted the philosophy and significance of Eid-ul-Fitr. Special prayers were offered for the prosperity and progress of the country and welfare of Muslim Ummah.
In Punjab, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated with religious zeal and fervour, like other parts of the country. In the provincial capital, day dawned with special prayers for the country, nation and Ummah, after Fajar.
Around twenty-five thousands Eid congregations held in the province at mosques, imam bargahs and open places in Lahore.
In Karachi, the Eid congregations were held all over the city in eidgahs, mosques, parks, imambargahs, and open places. The main eid congregation was held at Gulshan-e-Jinnah while other large congregations for Eid prayers were held at Nishtar Park, Eidgah Nazimabad, Daar-ul-Uloom Karachi and T-Ground. Sindh government took stringent security arrangements for the occasion.
Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali and Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan offered Eid prayers at Governor House, Peshawar and greeted Eid to the public on the 1st day of Eid at the Governor House. In Peshawar, the main congregation was held at Eidgah Charsadda road, Peshawar. The provincial government has taken tight security measures to maintain a peaceful atmosphere across the province on the occasion.
Like the rest of the country, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in Balochistan with religious fervour and zeal. In Quetta, more than 200 Eid congregations were held at open places, masajid, parks, imambargahs and eidgahs while the main congregation was held at Eidgah Toghi Road. Foolproof security arrangements have been undertaken on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr across the province. Strict security arrangements are in place to avoid any untoward incident.
Like other parts of the country, Eid-ul-fitr is also being celebrated in Gilgit-Baltistan with traditional zeal and fervour today. Eid congregations were held in all Gilgit, Diamer,and Baltistan divisions where people offered Eid-ul-fitr prayer in eidghas, imambargahs and mosques. In Gilgit, the biggest Eid congregations were held in Imamia Eidgah Jutial and Eidgah Ehlesunnat Konoda where thousands of people offered Eid paryers.
Gilgit administration has made elaborate security arrangements in this regard.
Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The festival spreads the feelings of love, affection and compassion. Eid gives a message of solidarity and mutual harmony. This festival is imbued with the spirit of harmony and inspires us to build a peaceful and prosperous society.
The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr promotes brotherhood and spreads the message of peace and harmony.
The official moon-sighting committee announced yesterday it did not receive any testimony about sighting of Shawwal moon from any part of Pakistan and that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Pakistan on Saturday (April 22).
Interestingly, an unofficial moon-sighting committee that operates from the Qasim Ali Khan Mosque in Peshawar also endorsed the official committee’s decision.
This unofficial committee headed by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai often disagrees with the judgment of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, resulting in celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr on two different days in different parts of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, like some other countries, celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday.
