Eid celebrated in Pakistan with religious Fervour   
'Pakistan Times' Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated all-over Pakistan and in Azad Kashmir on Wednesday with a renewed pledge to forge unity in the entire Muslim Ummah and to further strengthen the national cohesion and solidarity.

The faithful thronged Mosques, Eidgahs and Imam Bargahs to offer Eid prayers at 1000s of places in different areas of the country.

As usual the biggest Eid congregation in the city was held at the 
Faisal Mosque. In Lahore, the main congregation took place at the historic Badshahi Mosque. Eid prayers were also be held at Data Darbar, Masjid Shuhada, Masjid Wazir Khan, Jamia mosque, Tehrik Minhaj ul Quran and Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lawrence road.

President Musharraf offered the Eid ul Azha prayers at the Army Stadium in Rawalpindi and prayed for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and well-being of the Muslim UImmah. Special prayers were offered for early recovery of earthquake survivors in NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz offered the Eid ul Azha prayers at the 
Faisal Mosque in the federal capital along with tens of thousands of people.

He prayed for progress and prosperity of Pakistan and well-being of the Muslim Ummah. Special prayers were also offered for the early recovery of earthquake survivors.

Special prayers for the liberation of all occupied Muslim territories 
including India held-Jammu and Kashmir,were also offered. The prayers for strengthening the national solidarity, integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan were also offered.

Sermons

Ulema and Khateebs delivered special sermons and lectures to highlight the significance of the day, and call upon the Muslims to follow the teachings of Islam.

In the capital city of Islamabad, the main Eid congregation was held at the Faisal Mosque, where thousands of the faithful from the twin cities will offer Eid prayers along with dignitories, including cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps from the Muslim countries.

After the Eid ul Azha prayers, the faithfuls offered sacrificial of the animals.

The City District Governments all-over Pakistan have made special 
arrangements for cleanliness and for the removal of the offals of the sacrificial animals for the different areas in the metropolis.

The government has also taken steps for the monitoring of law and order in every where on the occasion.

The Public holidays have already been declared from January 10 to 12 on account of the Eid ul Azha.

Earthquake victims Remembered

Muslims across Asia celebrate the Eid al-Adha festival this week, with many in Pakistan saying they would forgo traditional animal sacrifices to help survivors of last year's earthquake.

Eid celebrations were more muted in Pakistan, which is still recovering from the devastating October 8 earthquake that killed more than 83,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless.

''I will not sacrifice an animal this year as I donated some money to Hizb ut-Tahrir,'' said Ghulam Muhammad, a businessman in Peshawar, adding that the banned Islamic radical group planned to arrange 1,000 animal sacrifices for the quake victims.

In Muzaffarabad, the quake-shattered capital of Azad Kashmir, few people were buying sheep or cows to sacrifice and many charity and Islamic groups were distributing meat in the city, witnesses said.

Housewife Gul Jafri, who returned from Singapore to her native Karachi for Eid, said that instead of slaughtering an animal, she had given money to a charity hospital whose doctors are treating kidney patients in Kashmir.

President receives prominent Personalities

President General Pervez Musharraf received prominent personalities at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Eid ul Azha and exchanged greetings with them.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on President Musharraf and exchanged greetings with him on the auspicious occasion. First Lady Bgum Sehba Musharraf and Mrs Shaukat Aziz also exchanged greetings.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee Gen. Ehsan ul Haq, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ahsan Saleem Hyat, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir also exchanged Eid greetings with the President.

The President also received a number of capital-based diplomats from Islamic, Asian, Western and other countries and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

Members of Fedeal Cabinet including Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Law Minister Wasi Zafar, Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, ministers of state, members of parliament, notable citizens also met with President and extended greetings.

Prime Minister exchanges Eid Greetings

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also exchanged Eid greetings with important personalities, military and civil officers, politicians, diplomats and other people belonging to different walks of life here at the Prime Minister House.

After exchanging Eid greetings with President General Pervez Musharraf at the President House, he received the dignitaries at the Prime Minister House.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee Gen. Ehsan ul Haq, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ahsan Saleem Hyat, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir along with their wives exchanged Eid greetings with the Prime Minister.

He also received a number of diplomats and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

Some members of the federal cabinet, leaders of Pakistan Muslim League, politicians, intellectuals, senior government officials and businessmen also visited Prime Minister House to exchange greetings with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Eid Security Plan

More than 10,000 police officials were deployed outside mosques, 
Imambargahs, railway stations, airports and other sensitive places in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in order to beef up security for Eidul Azha.

The administrations of the twin cities had chalked out a security plan to ensure law and order, sources said.

In Islamabad, more than 5,500 police officials were deployed outside 699 mosques and Imambargahs, and around 50 other places where eid prayer would be offered.

The capital police, depending on the sensitivity of the area, had put 140 mosques in category A, 200 mosques in category B and 300 mosques and Imambargahs in category C, the sources said.

According to the security plan, at least four police officials were 
deployed outside each category-A mosque, three around each category-B mosque and one police official outside each category-C mosque.

Eid is time for reaching out to those in need: Bush

Pakistan Times' US Bureau Chief Khalida Mazhar adds from Washinton; President George W. Bush Monday said Eid was a time for demonstrating charity and reaching out to family, friends and those in need.

In a Presidential Eid message, he said during Eid al-Azha, Muslims 
celebrate Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) devotion and give thanks for God's mercy and many blessings.

He said America was blessed to have people of many religious beliefs who contribute to the diverse makeup of this country, and that through generosity, compassion, and a commitment to faith, Muslim Americans have helped make the US stronger.

Following is the text of the message: "I send greetings to Muslims 
around the world as you celebrate Eid al- Adha. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham placed his faith in God above all else. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims celebrate Abraham's devotion and give thanks for God's mercy and many blessings.

Eid is also a time for demonstrating charity and reaching out to 
family, friends, and those in need. America is blessed to have people of many religious beliefs who contribute to the diverse makeup of this country.

Through generosity, compassion, and a commitment to faith, Muslim Americans have helped make our country stronger. Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyous celebration. Eid Mubarak."

Eid ul Azha Message by Tony Blair

And 'Pakistan Times' UK Bureau Chief M. Salim Khan reports from London; British Prime Minister Tony Blair in his Eid greetings message to the British Muslims has said that Eid- ul- Azha was a reminder of the "common different faiths."

"Eid al-Azha commemorates the devotion of the prophet Abraham and is a reminder of the common heritage of different faiths" said his message as majority of Muslims across Britain celebrated Eid ul Azha today.

Blair said this was also an occasion to reflect on the great 
contribution made by Islam in the field of science and literature.

"It is a time when Muslims around the world come together with friends and family. It is also an opportunity for us all to reflect on the extraordinary contribution of Islam over the centuries to learning, literature, art and science a contribution which can be celebrated by everyone and deserves wider recognition", said his message.

"At this special time, I send my best wishes to you and your family", said the Prime Minister.•