Afghan refugees praying during Nameez-e-Eid.
PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR: Like preceding years, tiny pockets of people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal belts celebrated Eidul Azha a day before the rest of the country.
Eidul Azha was celebrated in different parts of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and in some areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday.
In Peshawar, Eid was celebrated in different areas, including Board Bazaar, Tajabad, Hayatabad, Landi Sarak and Khurasa Camp.
Similarly, Afghan refugees in different parts of K-P and tribespeople offered Eidul Azha prayers and sacrificed animals. In Mohmand Agency, the residents of Shabqadar and Ghallanai celebrated Eid with fervour. Afghan refugees also celebrated Eid in Gandaf, Amazai, Baragai refugee camps and Bagheecha Dheri in Swabi.
Eid prayers were offered in Matta Mughul Khel, Shabqadar, Nowshera and Ghallanai.
Meanwhile, Assistant DC Shahid Mehmood told The Express Tribune, foolproof security arrangements were taken on Eidul Azha to counter untoward incidents. He added police was deployed in sensitive areas and the situation was under control.
A comprehensive security plan has been formulated to maintain law and order situation in Nowshera district. Nowshera DPO Wahid Mehmood said Eid holidays of police personnel were cancelled to facilitate the public and to ensure peace in the district.
Special arrangements
The management of the three major hospitals in the provincial metropolis has made special arrangements for Eidul Azha. Special duties have been assigned for doctors as well as nurses and paramedics.
Officials from the three hospitals informed that special arrangements were in place for Eid holidays. They added a specialist of each department will be present on duty, in addition to accident and emergency department officials.
Lady Reading Hospital Media Manager Zulfiqar Babakhel said the hospital management has already assigned duties of doctors, nurses and paramedics at all the departments.
He said the number of patients during Eidul Azha was slightly higher as compared on Eidul Fitr since people visited the hospital due to minor injuries.
Greetings exchanged
The Afghan border officials exchanged greetings with their Pakistani counterparts at Torkham on Eid day.
A senior official told The Express Tribune, “We want normal and cordial relationship with Afghanistan and after the border management, the affairs between Pakistan and Afghanistan are coming to normal.”
“We do not want tension on western border and wish that both the countries should continue fair trade,” the official said. It is the first time that Afghanistan and Pakistan officials exchanged greetings on Eid after the border dispute.
CAA arrangements
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made all possible arrangements to keep remains of the sacrificial animals away from Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) Peshawar.
CAA officials told The Express Tribune on Monday meetings were held with officials from the cantonment board, town management along with the district government where a detailed discussion was held over the matter.
Officials maintained the district government, town management and cantonment board will be distributing bags among residents living around the facility. They added people will be asked to make sure the remains were not visible so that birds were not to it.
Officials added there were people who shot birds within the airport premises but once there were visible remains dumped around the airport, it would not be possible for them to hit them since it attracted hundreds of birds.
“One small bird can damage the aircraft engine and it can lead to a fatal accident,” BKIA Manager Tahir Sikandar told The Express Tribune.
Sikandar said they will be least bothered with loss of the aircraft but loss of lives.
While speaking about security of the facility, the airport manager said that strict security measures have been adopted for Eid holidays.
IDPs criticise govt
The IDPs of Orakzai Agency have criticised the provincial and federal governments for neglecting them on the occasion of Eidul Azha. While speaking to journalists in Hangu, the agitated elders complained they returned back to their native areas but relief aid had not yet been provided to them.
Section 144 imposed
In order to prevent banned outfits and seminaries from collecting hides on Eidul Azha, the divisional commissioner has imposed section 144 in Hazara Division. A hand out issued stated that Hazara Commissioner Akbar Khan has banned collection of hides under section 144. The ban has been imposed on banned outfits, seminaries and jihadi organisations throughout the division.
With additional input from our correspondents in Hangu, Swabi, Peshawar, Mohmand, Nowshera and Hazara
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2016.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ