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| November 7, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 4, 1426 |
Qazi leads main Eid prayer in Muzaffarabad
MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 6: Thousands of people offered Eid prayer in Muzaffarabad on Friday in a sombre atmosphere, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
The main gathering was held close to the University College Ground in downtown in area which used to house academic blocks of AJK’s highest seat of learning before the quake
The prayer was led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, president of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan.
“As a Muslim our faith that the time of death is fixed. So please bear this loss with fortitude and turn towards Allah to seek His blessings and forgiveness,” Qazi Hussain Ahmed said in his speech.
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik, both of whom had spent the preceding night in a tent village to express solidarity with victims attended the congregation.
The JI leader exhorted people to carry on jihad with martyrdom as the most cherished desire. The Muslims, he maintained, were for peace but peace could only come with justice and not with tyranny.
He criticized foreigners who had allegedly joined relief operations for ‘searching Al-Qaeda (elements) in the fallen structures’ and asked them to help the survivors. “How should we believe that NATO is coming for our help? How can we trust them that they will not spy on our sensitive installations?” he asked.
He also slammed the army for controlling the relief operation.
“They (army) should give authority to civilian governments in the two regions (NWFP and AJK) and let parliament take care of the process,” he said, emphasizing that the army should be subservient to parliament instead of being imposed on people. “They are not answerable to anybody regarding whatever they spend,” he said.
His demand was later supported by Mr Imran Khan who said a parliamentary committee should be constituted to oversee the relief and rescue operations.
Elsewhere, Eid prayers were offered in open fields and mosques notwithstanding cracks in their structures.
As Eid prayer was finished, people embraced each other with tearful eyes, remembering their lost relations as well as the splendour of their town.
“This is an Eid of tears and sorrow,” said Amiruddin Qureshi, a survivor from Bela Nur Shah locality.
In the nearby camp, Arfa Adnan, 24, said life was very difficult in a makeshift dwelling.
Mr Imran Khan and Mr Malik also toured the camp, distributing gifts among them.
“I know the loss is too big, and it cannot be compensated, but we have to resign ourselves to the will of Allah,” the PTI chief told a sobbing woman.
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