MULTAN/HAFIZABAD/BAHAWALLPUR/WARBURTON/LALAMUSA/SARGODHA/MANDI BAHAUDDIN – Eidul Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in entire South Punjab region on Monday like other parts of the country. The event passed peacefully as no untoward incident took place.
The religious festival, celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan, brought cheers to the citizens. Contrary to an announcement made by the federal government that there would no loadshedding on eve of Eid, long power outages ruined the occasion and celebrations.
Similarly, mobile phone service remained suspended in Multan for over 15 hours between 9:00 pm Sunday night and 12:00 am Monday noon. The government said that the mobile service was suspended for security reasons but it restricted millions of citizens from greeting their loved ones on this important occasion.
The faithful thronged Eidgahs, Masjids and other open places to offer Eid prayers in the morning and to seek Allah Almighty’s benediction for progress and prosperity of the country as well as resolution of problems being faced by the Muslim Ummah.
Huge gatherings of people attended Eid congregations in Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan districts to revive great principles of Islamic brotherhood and fraternity while Ulema in their sermons highlighted the importance of self-control practiced during fast and asked the followers of Islam to promote peace and harmony in society as enshrined in the glorious teachings of Islam.
The largest congregations of Eid in Multan were held at Markazi Eidgah, Jamia Dar-ul-Hadith Mohammadia and Jamia Khair-ul-Madaris while Eid prayers were offered at more than 300 places including Jamia-ul-Uloom, Markaz Ibn-ul-Qasim, Jamia Rehmania, Gulistan Marriage Club, Masjid Shuhada Alkhair, Masjid Ashraf, Shrines of Hazrat Bahaudden Zakariya and Hazrat Shah Rukan-e-Alam, Jamia Anwar ul Uloom and Ghausia  Masjid, .
Special security measures were adopted in the entire South Punjab region to thwart vicious designs of anti-social elements and maintain peace during this religious festival. District police also made strict security arrangements as special pickets comprising armed cops were established at all sensitive places. Cops in uniform and plan clothes were deployed at all mosques, Eidgahs, shopping centres, grounds, parks, public places and sensitive installations while special branch officials carried out sweeping of all such place where Eid prayers were held.
The SHOs of all police stations kept patrolling their respective areas throughout the Eid day. The security officials had been directed to keep strict vigil on persons moving around in suspicious condition while police also sought the help of locals of all areas for security purposes.
In Hafizabad, Eidul Fitr prayers was held at more than 100 places amid tight security with religious solemnity. Special prayers for the national cohesion, integrity and solidarity, early liberation of Kashmir and Palestine and early liberation of Pakistani rulers from US slavery were held. Ulema during their sermons highlighted the significance of holy month of Ramazan and Eidul Fitr. They urged their audience to strictly abide by the teachings of Holy Quran and follow the footsteps of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) to resolve their problems.
In Bahawallpur, Eidul Fitr was celebrated with religious zeal and fervour. The Eid congregations were held at a number of places in the area in which Imams and Khateebs highlighted the philosophy and importance of the holy month of Ramazan and Eidul Fitr. They stressed to forge unity among all ranks for the supremacy of Islam, strong, stable and prosperous society and country to make Pakistan citadel of Islam.
The main Eid congregations were held at the Central Eidgah, Bahawalpur, Satellite Town, Hamaytian, Govt SE College, Govt Technical High School, Govt.Abbasia High School and Bahawalpur Cantonment which were largely attended by the faithful of all age groups while enthusiasm of children was worth mentioning.
Special prayers were offered during the Eid prayers for the well-being of the Muslim Ummah, national solidarity, progress, peace and prosperity. The Bahawalpur Zoo and the National Park, Lal Suhanra remained centre of attraction on this occasion and people particularly children and females visited these places enthusiastically on and after the Eid Day for recreation on the occasion.
The local police and administration had made special security arrangements on the occasion to ensure peace in the area.
In Warburton, Eidul Fitr was celebrated with zeal and religious enthusiasm. Eid prayers was offered at Jamia Masjid Govt. Model High School where many thousand people offered Eid prayers. However, Grid Station, Sabri Eid Gah Tibbi Karyalli and Ameer Ali Joya Agri Farms Bhagtera were also the major Eid prayer venues. The police ensured high security arrangements during Eid prayers. However, people of Warburton appreciated the police department on the commencement of guaranteed peaceful Eid festival.
In Lalamusa, Eid was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional festivities amid strict security measures. hundreds of the faithful thronged dozens of mosques, open places and parks to offer Eid-prayers. The main Eid congregation was held at Eidgah where the Muslims offered their prayers behind under the “Immamat” of Maulana Ghulam Rabbani. On the occasion, Ulma delivered sermons, highlighting the significance of the day. Special duas were offered seeking blessing of God, solidarity, integrity, prosperity of the country and successful accomplishment of the struggle launched by Muslims of Indian Occupied Kashmir, Afghanistan, Palestine and other subjugated areas.
Prominent political personalities hailing from Lalamusa including Federal Minister of Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Former finance minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira celebrated Eidul-Fitr at home town. Both PPP-stalwarts after Eid prayers reached PPP’s local Rabbita-e-Awam office on GT Road where they were greeted by a large number of party workers, notables and other people belonging to all walks of life and exchanged Eid-greetings with them.
A large number of families especially children clad in colourful dresses, glittering faces with excitement visited local parks. Women, who are usually supposed to remain at home, after feeding their families with specially cooked dishes also visited parks.
In Sargodha, Eidul Fitr was celebrated with full religious spirit and enthusiasm. Eid prayers were offered in about 500 mosques across the district. The district administration and police adopted comprehensive security measures to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, armed robbers looted cash from shopkeepers on the wee hour of Eid day in the congested Anar Kali Bazaar of Old Satellite Town. The incident happened near a police picket. The armed bandits stormed into at least five shops and snatched cash, opened aerial firing and fled away.
In Mandi Bahauddin, the festival of Eidul Fitr was celebrated amid news of killing in drone attacks, terrorists’ attacks and somewhat state of uncertainty with religious fervour. All the mosques were decorated where thousands of devotees offered Eid prayers and prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the country and Muslim Ummah. Main Eid congregations were held at Mandi Bahauddin, Phalia and Malikwal. After Eid prayers, people met each other and exchanged sweet dishes. Meanwhile, power loadshedding continued in the district although the government had announced that there would be no loadshedding during Eid holidays. Mong and its surrounding villages on left bank of River Jhelum have been without electricity for the last three days due to some fault in transformer. Despite repeated requests and complaints by the residents, Wapda has not restored electricity yet.