PM message: Eid dedicated to soldiers, IDPs

Army chief to spend Eid in Miramshah.

ISLAMABAD:

As the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on Monday evening, the prime minister and president dedicated Eidul Fitr to the soldiers and displaced families, while the army chief flew to North Waziristan to celebrate the festive occasion with the troops.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain in their separate messages urged the nation to share their joys with the displaced persons of North Waziristan and lauded the sacrifices of the soldiers fighting against terrorism.

“We thank Almighty Allah and pay rich tributes to all those martyrs, who have laid down their lives in defence of their country,” Nawaz said. He added that it was a day of jubilation, but pointed out that the joy will remain incomplete until the uprooted families return to their homes and are fully and safely rehabilitated.

The prime minister said the month of Ramazan gives a lesson of patience and tolerance and urged that this month-long training must reflect in our daily lives.

Separately, President Mamnoon Hussain urged the nation to share the joys of the occasion with the underprivileged and not to forget the IDPs of North Waziristan. He paid tributes to the army’s jawans, who sacrificed their lives for the country and expressed solidarity with their families.

He said Eidul Fitr was to express gratitude to Allah for His countless bounties upon mankind and prayers should be offered asking Allah to save Pakistan from terrorism and sectarianism.

Moreover, army chief General Raheel Sharif arrived in North Waziristan on Monday to celebrate Eidul Fitr with the troops. The Chief of Army Staff will spend the night in Miramshah and will celebrate Eid today (Tuesday) with soldiers fighting in Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2014.