A Pakistani policeman stands guard as devotees offer Eid prayers at the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan outside a mosque in Quetta yesterday.
Agencies/Islamabad
Security was tight across Pakistan yesterday as throngs of people came together to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals of the year.
Due to the security situation in the country, measures to cope with a possible emergency during the holiday were said to be in place.
Major hospitals were remaining fully staffed in case of an incident. Police and law enforcement personnel have also had their leave cancelled - they were posted in the mosques and markets where millions of people are gathering for prayers and last-minute shopping.
Local resident Shujaat Ali, said: “The security arrangements were adequate. Security personnel and law enforcing agencies were posted all around the mosque, and gave very good protection to the worshippers. We are very satisfied with the security arrangements.”
Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the one-month fasting period of Ramadan, which is one of the five pillars of Islamic teaching. The five-day official holiday started on Friday.
Meanwhile, in his message on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr from Madinah, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif highlighted the sacrifices of the nation in the war against terrorism and said Pakistan will soon be blessed with long-term peace and prosperity.
He said: “We must also be cognizant of the sacrifices rendered by our valiant armed forces who are steadfastly and successfully defending the national objective of security and peace of our country.”
The premier added: “We must remember our martyrs who have sacrificed their lives so that the nation lives in peace and tranquility.
“We must bear in mind the travails experienced by the Pakistanis displaced from North Waziristan who will be constrained to celebrate Eid in their camps,” he added.
Recalling the barbaric attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, the premier said, “We must also remember the victims of the Peshawar tragedy whose innocent martyrdom united the entire nation against terrorism with the resolve to root out this menace once and for all.”
He extended his heartiest felicitations to the nation on the joyous occasion of Eid and also conveyed his sincere good wishes to the Muslim Ummah on celebrating this auspicious day.
“On this day it is incumbent on us to look after the less fortunate amongst us and make them part of our collective celebration,” Sharif said.
Separately, the Pakistani military said Army Chief General Raheel Sharif celebrated Eid al-Fitr with soldiers who have been fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda near the Afghan border for nearly a decade.
In a statement, the army said Sharif first visited South Waziristan yesterday and then traveled to North Waziristan, which was considered the Taliban’s stronghold until last year when the government launched a major operation there.
The military says it has cleared over 90% of North Waziristan and killed over 2,800 militants since launching the operation in June 2014. The army says it has lost about 350 soldiers in the operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere.