LAHORE, Nov 2: The tableeghi congregation continued for the second day on Friday with ulema calling upon the Muslims to spread the message of Islam throughout the world.
Speakers made no reference whatsoever to the prevailing political situation in any Muslim country. Neither they referred to the current bombing by America and Britain on Afghanistan nor to the acts of terrorism allegedly committed by Osama bin Laden and his Al-Quaida organization.
A large number of people from Malakand and other parts of tribal areas in the NWFP and Northern Areas who had volunteered themselves to go to Afghanistan to support the Taliban, but were not allowed by the government to cross the border, have come to attend the tableeghi moot. A large number of Pathans living in Karachi and Balochistan are also attending the congregation.
Thousands of delegations from over 100 countries are attending the congregation. Scores of interpreters have been engaged to render urdu speeches of ulema into their respective languages.
The congregation venue is a big open place covered with coarse cloth supplied by textile mills to provide shelter from weather changes and the ground covered by rice husk and mats. The venue has been divided into 18 sectors; each sector has an accommodation for 50,000 persons. Anticipating more persons likely to come from the NWFP and Northern Areas than the previous years, the organizers were making arrangements for providing them accommodation on Friday.
Parking arrangements have been made for as many as 200,000 vehicles, including cars, buses, wagons, coasters and vans. Four big parks have been provided around the conference venue in addition to the parking at owners risk outside in the fields three to four kilometres away from the venue. Similarly a parking lot for about 50,000 motorcycles has been provided near the venue.
Meanwhile, the Lahore district administration has made elaborate arrangements for a smooth traffic flow on the concluding day on Sunday.
Various agencies like Wapda, Wasa, PIA, Pakistan Railways, Red Crescent and the Health Department have set up their offices to facilitate the participants. Scores of power generators have been installed to ensure uninterrupted power supply and special pumps installed for 24-hour water supply. PIA and Pakistan Railways have their booking offices near the venue. They have also made special arrangements for transporting passengers to their destinations. Special trains will leave from Raiwind for Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Multan and Rawalpindi on Sunday after the grand prayers.