KARACHI, March 29: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan has asked the government to declare two holidays for Eid Miladun Nabi for observing the festival in a more befitting manner with religious zeal.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, JUP leader Shabbir Abu Talib pointed out that the government would not hesitate in announcing holidays to celebrate Basant, facilitate watching of cricket matches or even on the occasion of Gen Musharraf’s meeting in Rawalpindi. However, he regretted, it was ignoring the public demand to declare 11th of Rabiul Awwal as an additional holiday for Eid Miladun Nabi.

Giving details of the main Eid Milad procession on Sunday, he said that it would start from Kakri Ground at 2.30pm and culminate at Noorani Chowk at 6pm after passing through Boulton Market, Denso Hall, Light House, Allahwala Market and Eidgah. The participants would offer fateha at the graves of Nishtar Park blast victims, he said, adding that the participants would be addressed by several religious leaders at different places along the route.

Demo: A large number of students from various religious schools staged a demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club against the government’s intention to demolish a madressah in PIB Colony to make way for the Lyari Expressway.