ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated Eidul Azha on Saturday with great religious fervour to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) who agreed to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (AS) upon Allah’s command.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the well-being of Muslim Ummah and safety and security of the country. Eid congregations were held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country.
In their sermons, Ulema and Khateebs highlighted the significance of the day and philosophy of the sacrifice. After offering Eid prayers, the faithful slaughtered their sacrificial animals in remembrance of Sunnat-e Ibrahimi.
Federal and provincial governments had chalked out elaborate security arrangements across the country to avoid any untoward incident. Civic authorities of different cities and towns had also made special arrangements for the disposal of offal and other solid waste during Eid days.
In Islamabad, the main Eid congregation was held at the Faisal Mosque where federal ministers, advisors to the prime minister, members of Parliament, high government officials and general public offered Eid prayer.
In Punjab, Governor Malik Rafique offered prayer at Lahore Governor House and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif offered prayer at Jati Umrah.
In Sindh, congregations of Eid prayers were held at mosques, Imambargahs and Eidgahs all over the province and the provincial government made fool-proof arrangements to provide security during the three days of Eid, and especially during the prayers.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and FATA congregations were held in more than two hundred places and the main congregation of Eid was held at Peshawar Charsadda Road Eidgah.
KP Governor Engineer Iqbal Zafar Jhagra offered prayer at Peshawar Governor House and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak offered it in his native town in Nowshera district.
In Balochistan, Eid prayer was offered at hundreds of mosques, parks and open places and the main congregation was held at Quetta Eidgah Toghi Road.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the main congregation was held at Markazi Eidgah where AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan offered Namaz-e-Eid, while AJK President Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan offered prayer at his native town Kot Mattey Khan in Rawalakot.
In Gilgit, the main prayer gatherings were held in Imamia Eid Gah Jutial, Ahlesunnat Eid Gah Konodas and Shah Karim Hostel Konodas.
