PESHAWAR: The people in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas celebrated Eidul Fitr on Friday though the festival will be marked in most parts of the country today (Saturday).

Afghan refugees also celebrated Eid in their respective areas in the day.

In the past, Afghans used to offer Eid prayers at Kacha Garhi ground but this time around, they offered them in mosques. Most Afghans offered Eid prayers at Zaghoni Mosque Hayatabad.

Eid prayers were offered in most parts of the provincial capital. However, people of the cantonment and some localities of main Peshawar city didn’t mark Eid.

Noted personalities, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, also celebrated Eid in the day. He offered Eid prayers in his native village, Manki Sharif, Nowshera district.

Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan offered Eid prayers in Behlola area of Charsadda.

Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao celebrated Eid in his native village, Sherpao, while ANP provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Pakistan People’s Party provincial president Khanzada Khan offered Eid prayers in Mardan.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan will offer Eid prayers today (Saturday).

An official at the Governor’s House said it was yet to be ascertained if the governor would stay in Peshawar during Eid days or move to his native town, Abbottabad.

Eid congregation at Eidgah Ground on Charsadda Road will be held today (Saturday).

Tight security measures were put in place on the eve of Eid prayers. However, the use of toy guns and firecrackers was seen almost in every locality.

Shopkeepers sold imitation arms and crackers violating ban on them without let or hindrance.

In Karak, Eid was observed throughout Banda Daud Shah tehsil. However, celebration of partial Eid was reported in Karak and Takht-i-Nusrati tehsils. In many areas of Karak district, Eidul Fitr will be observed today (Saturday).

Meanwhile, ANP leader Sardar Hussain Babak complained that the blackout of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan proceedings on moon sighting was part of the lingering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-centric attitude, wherein space was denied or voices were stifled.

Babak said the moon sighting issue was not new and that the federal and provincial governments should sit down to settle it once and for all.

JUI and JI also criticised the blackout of the Masjid Qasim Ali Khan moon sighting proceedings by TV channels.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

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