On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, President General Pervez Musharraf has asked nation to pray to seek Divine assistance for acquiring Islam's teachings of enlightenment in their proper perspective to foster mutual brotherhood, unity and love, and rid of sectarianism and extremism.
In a message released here on Saturday that marked the conclusion of month-long fasting by Muslims world-wide, the President said the nation must move forward on the path of progress and prosperity that could lead the Muslims to regain their past glory.
He also urged the people to share their joys with the poor, orphans, widows and other deserving segments of the society.
Similarly Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called for a collective approach to face the challenges of the present time and have a firm belief that "survival of an individual is linked with the national unity".
To maintain economic stability that had eluded the country over half a decade, Prime Minister said the nation must continue to work with tireless efforts. The country, he pointed had made a significant progress in defence, economy, communications, agriculture and industry.
President Musharraf' s message said: "On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I offer my heartiest greetings to the Muslims all over the world in general and the people of Pakistan in particular.
"We are immensely grateful to Allah Almighty for blessing us with an opportunity to pass the holy months of Ramazan in accordance with His Divine injunctions. During this month, we bowed ourselves in obedience to Him as a result of which we are now celebrating this auspices occasion.
"Ramazan-ul-Mubarak is a month of mutual understanding, brotherhood, empathy and compassion. Therefore, Eid-ul-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.
"On this day, we should pray that Allah Almighty may enable us to imbibe Islam's teachings of enlightenment in their proper perspectives. In this light of these teachings, we should endeavour 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.
"That indeed is the right path which can lead the Muslims today regain their past glory.
"It is my earnest prayer that Allah Almighty may bestow upon us with the ability to develop an enlightened understanding so that every day for us becomes a day of happiness and glory like the Eid. Ameen"
After wishing a happy Eid to the people, the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his messages said: "We pay our gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity and urge to offer prayers with faith and devotion during the holy month of Ramazan. With the blessing of this month, we observed the fasting with utmost sincerity during the day and remained absorbed in "ibadat" (worship) at night.
"The fasting and prayers during the holy month reinvigorated our faith and made us eligible to enjoy the Eid festivities. For this blessing, we bow our heads before the Almighty Allah and submit our utmost gratefulness to Him.
"Today, we are celebrating Eid at a time, which offers both, the new opportunities and the new challenges.
"As a result of tireless efforts during the last five years, and by the grace of Allah Almighty, we have achieved the economic stability, which continued to elude us for over half a decade.
"We have made a significant progress in all spheres of life, be it defence, economy, communication, agriculture or industry.
"We have to keep a close vigil on those, out to disrupt law and order, and fight terrorism and extremism with full force. We need to mould our thoughts and deeds in line with the injunctions and true spirit of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.
"It is the 'Hadith' of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) that Islam will always rein supreme and there will be no ideology over and above it.
"We should follow Hadith' in its true spirit by promoting an enlightened and moderate Islam to create a world of our own.
"I pray that may Allah Almighty make the virtues of patience, tolerance, piety and sacrifice as permanent part of our lives, which flourished and gained strength during the holy months of Ramazan. May Allah bless us with real happiness of life. Amen!"