KARACHI, Oct 24: The people hailing from parts of the NWFP, mainly from the federal administered tribal agencies, celebrated their Eidul Fitr in Karachi on Tuesday.

Although they did not perform Eid prayers, they celebrated Eid clandestinely.

People were seen offering cold drinks to each other in Raja Tanveer Colony, Toori Bangash Colony, Mohammad Khan Colony, Metroville, Sohrab Goth and in some parts of Ittehad Town.

Talking to Dawn, Mohammad Ali said that the people had followed their relatives, who had celebrated Eid in Wazirisatan on Monday.

He said that those who announced the Eid in the NWFP were also religious scholars and popular personalities.

Peer Mohad said that the decision taken by the NWFP government was correct and the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee was bound to base on it while making any announcement.

Pleading anonymity, a religious leader in Ittehad Town said that the government was already against religious people and ulema (scholars) have to take decision very carefully, otherwise they would have publicly announced the Eid on Tuesday in Karachi.

He alleged that the decision of Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee would cause further polarisation among the people, adding that President Gen Pervez Musharaf got another chance to criticize the ulema for having the differences.

Meanwhile, some of the transporters of the above mentioned areas preferred to keep their vehicles off the roads on Tuesday. The drivers said that the number of passengers was very thin and in such a situation they could not meet even the fuel expenses.