Like other parts of the country, the residents of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) with religious reverence and fervour and people renewed their pledge to follow the true teaching of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The celebrations began early in the day with a 31-cannon salute in the federal capital in respect of the birthday of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).
All major government buildings including Parliament House, President House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Cabinet Block and semi-government buildings, plazas, markets, roads, streets, houses, buildings, shopping malls, mosques and roundabout in federal capital as well as in the garrison city were decorated on the occasion. In Islamabad the main procession was taken out from Masjid Raza located at sector G-7/2, passing through traditional routes and culminated at Mehmmod Darbar. A number of small processions were also taken from other parts of the city.
Strict monitoring of the processions was carried out with Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to ensure security. Parking of vehicles was not allowed on the route of the procession. In Rawalpindi the main procession of Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) started in the morning from Jamia Masjid Road which passed through its traditional routes, Circular Road, Waris Khan, Murree Road, Committee Chowk, Iqbal Road, Fawara Chowk, Raja Bazaar and other areas amid foolproof security. The participants were holding models of Khana-e-Kahba and Masjid-e-Nabvi besides reciting Naat Sharif and Qirat.
A major procession in connection with Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) was also brought out from Jamia Mosque Gulzar-e-Madina Sadiq Town led by Hafiz Gulzar Ahmed. In the procession buses, wagons, Suzukis, motorcycles, rickshaws, trucks and cars took part while thousands of faithful were on their feet (pedestrians) to show their love with Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). A senior official of Rawalpindi Police said that around 1,300 small and big processions were taken out from different parts of the city.
The district government allowed many registered Sabeels at different points. The participants of the processions were passed through walk-through gates to avoid any untoward incident. CCTV cameras were also installed on the routes of main processions to monitor the movement of suspect elements. Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings were also held in different parts of the country, while the faithful actively participated in the programmes organised by different religious and social organisations. People set up Langars and Sabeels of sweet water/milk at different points of procession routes on the occasion.
Religious scholars and Ulema highlighted the significance of the occasion and asked the people to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) to achieve success in life as well as the life hereafter. In the wake of terror threats, the law enforcement agencies made tight security arrangements in twin cities in order to avert any untoward incident. As many as 3,000 security personnel including Islamabad Police, Rangers and FC were deployed at the routes of procession in the federal capital while in Rawalpindi 35,000 security personnel were deployed on the occasion. Similarly, all main hospitals including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic, District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi were put on high alert as well as Rescue 1122 and fire brigade.