PESHAWAR: Eidul Fitr was celebrated in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas on Friday with great religious zeal and fervour.

The post-Ramazan religious celebrations come in light of the Thursday night announcement of the self-styled local Ruet-i-Hilal Committee (moon-sighting panel) led by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai.

The committee is based in the historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan of Peshawar.

Provincial govt to mark festival today with rest of country

The provincial government will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Saturday with rest of the country.

An official statement issued here said the provincial government had decided to celebrate Eid on June 16 with the federal government in line with the announcement of the Markazi Ruet-i-Hilal Committee.

Several families in few places of Peshawar city fasted on Friday with the controversy over the sighting of moon being a major topic of discussion.

Major Eid congregations were held in the provincial capital’s Masjid Mahabat Khan, Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, Masjid Darwaish and Al Zarghoni Masjid.

The biggest such gathering took place in Hayatabad’s Bagh-i-Naran.

The youths and children thronged public parks though weather was hot and humid.

The Bagh-i-Naran Park, Tatara Park, Khyber Park and other parks of the city attracted large crowds of youths and children.

Though the Pesco had claimed to supply electricity to the people without interruption during Eid holidays, the celebrations were marred by the excessive outages and frequent power tripping in rural areas of Peshawar and other parts of the province.

Meanwhile, caretaker chief minister retired Justice Dost Mohammad Khan greeted people on Eid.

In a message, he said Eidul Fitr created the spirit of collectiveness and togetherness among Muslims.

“Today, we have to keep alive the same spirit and share our happiness and joys with the destitute and poor segments of the society,” he said.

The CM said it was a thanksgiving occasion wanting people to rise above petty differences and express complete solidarity with each other, which was more needed at present than before.

“Eidul Fitr is a festivity celebrated by Muslims both rich and poor and a unique gift by the Almighty Allah enjoining upon the rich to share their happiness and joys with poor and take care of them in order to promote collectiveness and togetherness among Muslims,” he said.

Retired Justice Dost paid tribute to the personnel of armed forces, who laid down life for the cause of the country and restored peace in the country.

He also congratulated the people fighting for the national cause and said the entire nation backed them.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2018