Eid celebrated with religious fervour.

Islamabad—Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated on Wednesday with religious enthusiasm and fervour across Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Eid prayers were offered at Eidgahs, mosques all over the country. In their sermons, Ulema highlighted the philosophy of Eid and prayed for progress and solidarity of the country and Muslim Ummah.

In Islamabad, the largest Eid congregation was held at Faisal Mosque and in Rawalpindi the largest Eid congregation was held at Eid Gah at Badshahi mosque in Lahore was main venue of Eid congregation.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani offered their Eid prayers in President house and Prime Minister house respectively and prayed for the well being of Muslim Ummah, prosperity, development, peace and calm in the country.

It was the first Eid celebrated by President Asif Ali Zardari as Country’s Head of State and Yousuf Raza Gilani as Premier of the country.

Accompanied by staff of Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Asif Ali Zardari attended Eid prayer in Presidency while Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani along with Staff of Prime Minister House, Federal Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A. Malik and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah offered prayers in Prime Minister House.

President Asif Ali Zardari met with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in President House on the occasion of Eid. Sources said that the President apprised Prime Minister about his recently concluded visit to US. They exchanged Eid greetings.

President and Prime Minister received Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majeed, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir and Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar separately. They exchanged Eid greetings.

According to the sources, Parliamentarians, members of Federal Cabinet, diplomats, senior civil authorities and prominent personalities greeted President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani along with high-level army officers attended Eid prayer in Rawalpindi Chaklala Garrison and prayed for the well being of Pakistani people and development of the country.

Joint Chiefs of Army Staff Committee Gen. Tariq Majeed along with army Jawans, senior and retired army officers performed Eid prayers in mosque of Joint Chief Staffs Headquarters Rawalpindi.

Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lieutenant Gen. Mohsin Kamal visited CMH and Military Hospital in Rawalpindi and inquired about the health of patients.

Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary performed his Eid prayers in Faisal Mosque. Envoys of different Islamic countries, civil bureaucrats, large number of lawyers and people also attended their Eid prayer in Faisal mosque, however, no official personality attended his Eid prayers in Faisal Mosque.

Former President Pervez Musharraf offered his Eid prayer in mosque of Army House and celebrated his Eid in farm house in Islamabad. Strict security measures were taken by law enforcement agencies on the occasion. After receiving Eid greeting, Ex-President in a brief chat with media men said, he is not going anywhere and would stay in Pakistan but some non governmental organization was inviting him for a lecture. Strongly condemning suicide attack in Marriott Hotel, he said, war against terrorism should be continued while aftermath of Bajaur operation are being witnessed.

President Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi telephoned Former President Pervez Musharraf and greeted him on the eve of Eid.

In Karachi Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated by faithful with religious fervour. Stringent security measures were taken on this occasion.

Main Eid congregation was held at the Old Polo Ground Bagh-e-Jinnah where Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal offered Eid prayers along with notables, members of the diplomatic corps from the Islamic countries.

Doors of Governor House were opened on Eid day for general public and Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan exchanged greetings with the visitors. People apprised the Governor about their problems who issued on the spot orders for their redressal.

The diplomats of Muslim countries, representatives of armed forces, civil officers, Ulema, representatives of Bohra Jamaat, representatives of industrial and business communities, people from media as well as people belonging to various walks of life met the Governor and exchanged greetings.

Earlier talking to media after offering Namaz Eid-ul-Fitr at polo ground, Governor said with Allah’s blessings, situation throughout the Province on Eid day remained peaceful and people celebrated the most auspicious festive occasion with traditional zeal and fervour.

He said that markets continued to hum with activity while faithful collected Allah’s blessings throughout the holy month of Ramazan. He appealed to the people to demonstrate this unity and cohesion on each day of the year and thwart the nefarious designs of anti-social elements and opponents of country and nation.

link: http://pakobserver.net/200810/04/news/topstories11.asp