Thousands march in processions to celebrate Eid Miladun Nabi

Strict security arrangements were put in place across the province for the day

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:

Hundreds of rallies and a greater number of congregations were organised across the province to mark Eid Miladun Nabi on Thursday.

In Karachi, thousands of residents took to the streets with religious zeal and fervour under tight security arrangements by the police and Rangers. Roads, streets and buildings across the city wore a festive look, lit up by colourful lights and buntings, while a number of programmes were held to celebrate the annual event.



Nearly 1,115 programmes relating to the celebrations of Rabiul Awwal 12 and 515 processions and rallies were taken out in the city. More than 28,000 police personnel as well as over 8,000 Rangers troops performed security duty on the day.

Lower Sindh

A similar fervour was witnessed in the districts of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah divisions. Streets and main roads were decorated with green flags. Besides the recitation of naat, rides on camel carts, decorated horses and fireworks also featured in the rallies. However, amid the joy of celebration, an accident in Tando Muhammad Khan left 17 persons injured, with three of them in critical condition.

In Hyderabad the two main processions were organised by factions of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), including one led by former MNA Sahibzada alKhair Muhammad Zubair and another by religious leader Shah Awais Noorani. Both the processions culminated near Qadam Gah Moula Ali on separate times.



"Only the enforcement of Nizam-i-Mustafa in Pakistan can deliver the people from the corrupt system and rulers," said Zubair. He used the event, in which thousands of JUP followers gathered to celebrate the day, to warn of a violent backlash if Mumtaz Qadri is hanged for the killing of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

"Nawaz Sharif will not remain in power for more than three days if this happens," he cautioned the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Noorani also took the opportunity of addressing the huge congregation to criticise the Sindh government. "The anti-peace elements are gaining strength from the stand-off between the Sindh government and the Rangers," he said, adding that the present dispensation of government has deprived the common people of justice.

The Shia Ulema Council also took out a rally from Karbala Dadan Shah to Qadam Gah Moula Ali

Upper Sindh

Meanwhile, hundreds of rallies were taken out and congregations held in several cities of Upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Naushahro Feroze, Qamber-Shahdadkot and Dadu. Besides Mahafil-e-Milad and Durood-o-Salam, processions were held under the aegis of various religious and social organisations.



Across the region, mosques, shops, homes and other public places were decorated with green flags, buntings and colourful lights. In Sukkur, several processions were held to mark the occasion, which passed through different main roads before merging into the main procession at Shaikh Shehen Road where ulemas delivered speeches about the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Later, the processions took to the streets again and, passing through the main arteries of the city, reached the Clock Tower roundabout, where it turned into a public gathering. The main procession later moved to other parts of the city and terminated at Pan Mandi.

Strict security arrangements were made to avert any untoward incident. A large contingent of police, including six DSPs, 13 inspectors, 37 assistant sub-inspectors and 86 head constables were deployed along the routes of the processions.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2015.