ISLAMABAD, 15 November 2004 — Eid Al-Fitr was celebrated throughout Pakistan with great zeal, enthusiasm and religious fervor yesterday.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz felicitated people of the country on the auspicious occasion.
Eid congregations were held all over the country, where people offered Eid prayers and thanked Almighty Allah for His blessings.
The president and prime minister have ordered the law enforcing agencies to makefoolproof security arrangements throughout the country to maintain law and order during the Eid festival and the following days.
Mushrraf offered prayers in Rawalpindi and Aziz at the PMA House Mosque.
Musharraf and Aziz have urged the nation to strive for fostering unity, love and brotherhood in accordance with Islam’s teachings of enlightenment to rid the society of sectarianism and extremism and steer Pakistan on the path of progress and prosperity.
In a message, the president offered his heartfelt greetings and also called for sharing the joy and happiness of the auspicious occasion with all the segments of society.
“On this day, we should pray to Allah Almighty that He may enable us to imbibe Islam’s teachings of enlightenment in their proper perspectives. In the light of these teachings, we should endeavor to foster mutual brotherhood, unity and love so that we may get rid of sectarianism, extremism and terrorism and move forward on the path of progress and prosperity,” he said in the message.
That indeed is the right path, which can lead the Muslims today to regain their past glory, he added. The president emphasized that Ramadan was a month of mutual understanding, brotherhood, empathy and compassion.
“Therefore, Eid Al-Fitr demands that we practically demonstrate the values of Islamic fraternity, unity and love and share our joys with the poor, orphans, widows and other deserving segments of the society.” He thanked Allah Almighty for granting the opportunity to pass the holy month in accordance with Islamic teachings.
“On the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr, I offer my heartfelt greetings to the Muslims all over the world in general and the people of Pakistan in particular. It is my earnest prayer that Allah Almighty may bestow upon us the ability to develop an enlightened understanding so that every day for us becomes a day of happiness and glory like the Eid,” he said.
Extending his heartiest greetings, the prime minister urged the people to follow the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in their true spirit by promoting an enlightened and moderate Islam “to create a world of our own”.
“Let’s revisit our way of thinking and deeds and fulfill our responsibilities in this regard. Stand up to hatred and tyranny with full might and spread the teachings of Islam that promote peace and love for all,” he added.
The prime minister urged people to continue the fight against the menaces of extremism and terrorism till they were fully eliminated. “With the blessing of this holy month, we observed fasting with utmost sincerity during the day and remain absorbed in prayer at night,” he said.
