PESHAWAR: Eidul Azha was celebrated in the provincial capital under tight security with law-enforcers deployed in and around mosques and Eidgahs in large numbers.
Almost all mosques and Eidgahs in the city and cantonment areas had armed policemen at main entrance to allow the faithful the access to the premises after thorough checking.
In Peshawar’s rural areas, five mosques and one Eidgah remained closed on Eid day for security reasons.
Deputy head of the Adezai Qaumi Lashkar told Dawn that the people avoided offering Eid prayers in mosques fearing terrorist attacks though police were deployed at their entry points and armed volunteers of the lashkar took positions on the premises.
He said the Eidgah, where majority of locals used to offer Eid prayers, remained closed on security grounds.
“We offered Eid prayers at our hujra,” he said.
When contacted, SSP (operations), Peshawar Tahir Ayub said besides check points and entry and exit points in the city, places of worship had deployment of at least 2,000 policemen around them for Eid prayers.
“We had mobilised at least 7,000 policemen in addition to the special police officers, Frontier Constabulary and Frontier Corps to protect the people’s lives,” he said.
When asked about any arrests or seizure of vehicles on Eid, the SSP said police had taken into custody many suspects and held weapons before Eid and that all the points of entry to the city had been closed to secure the entire district.
Meanwhile, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Masood Kausar offered Eid prayers at Governor’s House, Peshawar.
Besides hundreds of the faithful, proivincial ministers, including senior minister Rahimdad Khan, deputy speaker of the provincial assembly Khushdil Khan and senior government officials were also in attendance.
Special prayers were offered for the country’s peace, security, solidarity and unity. Prayers were also offered for the martyrs, while solidarity was expressed with their families. Later, the governor exchanged greetings with people.
Also in the day, people from different walks of life called on the governor at the Governor’s House and exchanged greetings with him.
Among them were Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik, senior provincial minister Rahimdad Khan, deputy speaker of the provincial assembly Khushdil Khan, minister for health Zahir Shah, present and former parliamentarians, lawyers, senior government officials, tribal elders and notables of the city.
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