Eid festivities: huge crowds throng picnic spots, parks
In this picture taken on April 16, 2023, people throng a market during shopping ahead of the upcoming festival of Eidul Fitr. PHOTO: AFP
A large number of residents of the twin cities as well as people from surrounding areas headed toward public parks and picnic spots in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the Eid holidays.
A number of people took time out to visit public places while children enjoyed themselves in public parks as families set up barbeque grills nearby to relish the food.
Though Islamabad remains quiet during Eid holidays as most residents head back to their hometowns to celebrate Eid, with the increase in the population of the capital city, public places have started to witness a relative buzz. This is also because of the relative dearth of recreational spots in areas and towns surrounding the capital.
In Islamabad, families thronged popular spots such as Lake View Park, Shakarparian, Daman-e-Koh, Jasmine Garden, Japanese Children Park and other places.
In Rawalpindi, 77 amusement parks and the Patriata chairlift remained the center of attention for families and visitors.
On the first day of Eid, the rain coupled with dark clouds and cold winds throughout the day turned the weather pleasant as a large number of people visited major amusement parks of the twin cities to enjoy the Eid holidays.
After Eid prayers and wishing greetings to relatives, people straight away headed to parks and picnic places.
All amusement parks were open from 8 am to 1.30 am on the three-day Eid holidays as children enjoyed rides, swings, moto boating and riding, dodging cars and horses and camel rides.
Families and children also enjoyed mini-train rides while children enjoyed themselves by taking pictures with wild and caged animals in zoos and parks.
At Ayub National Park in Rawalpindi, families indulged in boating in droves and riding motor boats while children enjoyed the waterfall in ‘Joy land’. Little kids and girls played on electronic swings.
Families including children flooded Ayub Park, Jinnah Park, Rumi Park, Ladies Park, Children's Park, Dhok Munshi Park, Allama Iqbal Park, Patriata Chairlift, Pir Sohawa, Loye Dindi and other places during the Eid holidays. Managements also charged double for tickets for swings and rides.
They charged Rs700 per person for boating, Rs500 for a ‘dodging’ car ride, Rs150 for camel and horse riding, Rs100 for the train ride, Rs300 for electro swing games, etc. Food stalls and vendors also charged double from families visiting parks and public spots.
Ayub Park saw families in droves as the newly built amusement park teeming with all kinds of flowers from around the world remained the main attraction. Children and families also enjoyed wild animals, birds and pets in some parks and zoos.
Law and order situation remains peaceful
Eid prayers were held in Rawalpindi under tight security, and the city's overall law and order situation remained peaceful and calm throughout the three Eid holidays.
Eid prayers were offered in more than 3,000 mosques, Imambargahs and other locations in Rawalpindi under tight security. People were permitted entry to attend Eid Namaz and congregations after thorough checking and screening.
In Rawalpindi, big Eid congregations were held at Jamia Islamia, Liaquat Bagh, Government Gordon College, Government Degree College Satellite Town and Eid Gah Sharif.
The Rawalpindi police had deployed over 4000 personnel for the security of Eid congregations
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi city traffic police's claim of putting in place stringent measures to prevent one-wheeling and car-skating during the Eid holidays remained mere an announcement as youngsters resorted to stunts and risky tricks on main road.
One killed, another injured
A father of four, who was driving a Bikea motorcycle to earn his livelihood, was killed after a car-skater collided him.
According to the police, the victim, identified as Farooq, was hit by an unknown vehicle during in the Westridge police limits. A man who was on the pillion got his both legs broken after they were hit by the unidentified car rider who was indulging in ‘skating’. The family of the deceased has appealed to the Punjab chief minister and inspector-general of police to help arrest the culprit as the family alleged that the local police were not cooperating with them.
The police claimed that they have arrested the offender who was driving the car and registered a case. The deceased was the sole earner of the family and has three young daughters and one son. The deceased lived in a rented house and earned a livelihood for the children by driving a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, police crackdown on one-wheeling, overspeeding, and negligent motorcyclists on the occasion of Chand Raat and Eid holidays.
Police claimed to have arrested 17 persons involved in one-wheeling and seized 13 motorcycles from them.
Waris Khan police arrested Syed Shozub, Noman, Qurban, Usman and Fahad and seized five motorcycles from them for indulging in one-wheeling.
Sadiqabad police arrested Arshad, Imad, Zeeshan, Jamshed and Tauseef and seized three motorcycles; Ratta Amral police arrested Aamir, Adil and Ehtisham and seized three motorcycles from them. City police arrested Mohammad Shayan, Kashan, Owais and Ehsan and confiscated two motorcycles from them.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2023.