PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, processions and meetings were held in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to celebrate Eid Miladun Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) with religious fervour on Thursday.

In Peshawar, processions and gatherings were organised to mark the occasion while major buildings, roads and mosques were illuminated beautifully to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a befitting manner.

The government departments, private firms, traders and transporters had also made arrangements for illumination and decoration of buildings, shops, parks and vehicles.

The Milad was also celebrated by non-Muslims, who held a conference at Archives Hall which was largely attended by followers of different religions.

University of Peshawar former vice-chancellor Dr Qibla Ayaz, Adviser to Chief Minister Sardar Suran Singh, Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarab Diyal, Shaukat Ghulam Masih and others addressed the conference.

Processions taken out and gatherings held in different districts to mark the day

Similarly, religious groups belonging to different sects also held rallies and processions to commemorate the occasion. The processions were taken out from Milad House Gulbahar, Gantha Gar and Milad Chowk Rampura which after passing through different routes culminated at Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

Besides, a Naat Khwani competition was also held under the aegis of Pakhtunkhwa Radio FM 92.2 Peshawar.

Senior Naat Khwan Syeda Amina Attaullah Shah and Syeda Zartaj Bukhari performed as judges while Rimsha Abdul Amin, Sana Shahid and Hifsa Malik grabbed first, second and third positions respectively. Among the boys, Faraz Ahmad secured first position whereas Nasir Khan stood second.

Police had blocked link roads and streets to provide security to the participants of processions. People had to join processions by passing through walk-through gats and after proper body search. Personnel of bomb disposal unit also remained alert to avert any untoward incident.

In Lakki Marwat, the 12th of Rabiul Awal was celebrated with religious fervour amid tight security.

In Lakki City, district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel, Pir Saifuddin Akmal Sultan Bahu, head of Marwat Qaumi Jirga Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan, tehsil naib nazim Dr Sarfraz Khan, Mansoor Kamal Khan of PTI and Anjaman Ghulamaane Mustafa leader Haji Abdul Rauf Sulemani led the procession.

Religious scholars highlighted various aspects of the lift of the Holy Prophet and called upon Muslims to follow his teachings.

Religious gatherings were also held in Naurang, Darra Pezu, Tajori and Shahbazkhel towns to mark the birth anniversary of Holy Prophet.

In Mansehra, traders kept their shops closed and youth took out a motorcycle rally to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi.

Processions were also taken out from different localities in the city and its suburbs that merged in the main procession, which was taken out from the central mosque in Mufti Abad.

In Swabi, a big procession was taken out at Right Bank Colony, Tarbela Dam. The procession passed through various roads and finally culminated at Ghosia Mosque where a Naat contest was held.

Major mosques and buildings in the district were illuminated on the day. Milad gatherings were also organised in different regions.

In Kohat, a religious gathering was held at Hazrat Haji Bahadar Mosque that was organised by Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat.

The participants presented Naat in respect of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) while speakers highlighted different aspects of his life.

Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Musarrat Hussain said that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) taught tolerance, peace, modesty, honesty and justice and above all encouraged the people to stand before bad people without fear.

A procession was also taken out from the shrine of Hazrat Haji Bahadar which passed through the main bazaar and then returned to the mosque.

Another function was held at Company Park.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2015