MULTAN, Sept 23: The three-day congregation of Dawat-i-Islami began here on Friday at Sher Shah, in the outskirts of the city. The moot was launched with the Friday sermon listened by thousands of faithful belonging to the Ahle Sunnat sect.

Thousands of people have arrived here to participate in the collective prayers while thousands more are reaching to join the moot.

A city of tents has been established while the Pakistan Railways has introduced special trains for the people wanted to attend the congregation from various parts of the country. Arrangements for the women have been organized at the Qasim Bagh Fort.

Agencies like Wapda, Wasa, Tehsil Municipal Administration and health department have also made special arrangements to take care of the participants. The police have taken extraordinary security measures to avert any untoward incident.

More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed. Of them, around 1,000 are said to be performing their duties in civvies among the people.

The moot will end on Sept 25.

Organizers of the moot claimed it to be the second largest gathering of Muslims in the world after the Haj.