BAJAUR: Over 50 per cent residents of Bajaur tribal district celebrated Eidul Fitr on Friday to follow Saudi Arabia.
The residents said they had opted to celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia after both the central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee and Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai’s private body announced the Shawwal moon couldn’t be sighted on Thursday evening.
Residents of most areas of Lowi Mamond, Warh Mamond, Nawagai, Chmarkand and Salarzai observed Eid on Friday.
However, residents of Khar tehsil said they would celebrate Eidul on Saturday (today).
Meanwhile, the police on Friday took strict security measures so the resident could celebrate Eid in a peaceful environment.
According to a statement, several hundred policemen have been tasked with performing duties outside major mosques, Eidgahs and open places during the Eid prayers. It said three police personnel would be deployed at each major mosque and Eidgha across the district.
The statement said comprehensive security arrangements had also been made for major tourism spots during the Eid days.
Several teams have also formed to keep check overcharging by transporters.
Separately, the district administration imposed Section 144 banning firing in the air, use of firecrackers and pillion-riding to thwart any unpleasant incident on Eid days.
According to a statement, a decision to this effect was taken in line with the suggestions made by senior officials during a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq. District police officer Nazeer Khan also attended the meeting.
The statement said the meeting also decided to ban bathing, swimming and fishing in both Raghagan and Tali small dams.
The restrictions, which meant to avoid any unpleasant incident during the Eid days, would remain effective from April 21 to May 1.
The statement said the violators of the ban would be proceeded against under section 188 of PPC.
HAILSTORM: Hailstorm damaged standing wheat and vegetable crops and fruit orchards in mountainous areas of Mamond tehsil, residents and officials of agriculture department said on Friday.
They said Gondai, Zaray, Agra, Gutt, Bando, Zagai and Saparay were among the areas hit by hailstorm on Thursday evening. They said hailstorm accompanied with rain badly damaged standing crops and fruit orchards.
The growers said hailstorm damaged standing wheat crop, which was about to be harvested in a couple of weeks. The farmers demanded of the government to extend financial support to them.
An official of agriculture department said hailstones, which continued for an hour, extensively affected wheat crop and fruit orchards on hundreds of acres of land.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2023
