ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: This year Eidul Fitr will be marked with solemnity and simplicity to show solidarity with those whose lives have been devastated in the Oct 8 earthquake as, according to Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Shawwal moon was sighted on Thursday.
Unlike every year, this time Eid will be sombre in memory of over 73,000 people of Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Alai and various other districts of AJK and NWFP, who left this world on Oct 8.
There are hundreds and thousands who were left injured, some of them maimed, and admitted in hospitals.
Those who managed to survive the earthquake, have been rendered homeless and are living out in the open or in tents.
They had never thought they will spend their Eid in such a manner. Their traditional joys and celebrations attached with Eid are gone with the loved ones who could not survive the earthquake.
“How can we celebrate Eid when a good part of Pakistan is in mourning. Is it not the time to bow before Allah Almighty and seek forgiveness,” said a social worker.
“We must pray for all those who lost their lives and help the survivors and the injured with all our generosity. This will not bring the dead back, but will provide some succour to the victims in this trying time,” he said.
Special Dua will be offered after Eid prayers for the victims of the earthquake.
A large number of NGOs, social and volunteer organizations have made arrangements to send Eid gifts to the relief camps in the twin cities and the affected areas.
Our Bureau Report adds from Peshawar:
Partial Eid was observed in parts of the NWFP on Thursday including Peshawar, while Charsadda too joined in late at night.
Markets and shopping malls wore a deserted look in Peshawar, where locals heeded a call by clerics to celebrate Eid on Thursday after receiving 17 evidences of moon sighting.
Shops remained closed and traffic was thin in the Frontier metropolis indicating that locals had embraced the verdict of the local clerics and celebrated their Eid.
Afghans, who celebrate their Eid with Saudi Arabia, also celebrated their Eid on Thursday.
Clerics in Charsadda, initially announced that they would fast but changed their mind late night after Peshawar decided to celebrate Eid on Thursday. Announcements, therefore, were made from mosques fairly late at night urging people to celebrate their Eid on Thursday. Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, who belong to Charsadda, also celebrated their Eid on Thursday.
Eid was also celebrated in Dir, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Hangu, Bannu, Karak and Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan districts.
Swat, Kohat and Hazara division, which traditionally go with the federal government, will celebrate their Eid on Friday.
Reports from the tribal region said that Eid was celebrated in Khyber, North and South Waziristan and Mohmand agencies. Eid was partial in Bajaur tribal region. There was no word from Orakzai Agency whereas in Kurran, Eid was partial with the agency headquarters, Parachinar, celebrating its Eid on Friday.
Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, who had followed the Central Ruet-i-Hilal’s decision while fasting, will celebrate his Eid on Friday.
The chief minister left Peshawar for Abbottabad to be amongst the earthquake victims on Eid day. He is scheduled to offer his Eid prayers at Balakot, where he will distribute gifts among children and spend some time with the earthquake victims. He will also meet people affected by the devastating earthquake in Mansehra.
