Road, Railway Road, Chowk Dalgran, Gawalmandi, Mayo Hospital, Anarkali, Lohari Gate, Bhaati Gate, and culminated at Data Darbar. Prior to the procession, a grand meeting was held which was addressed by prominent figures from all walks of life. The meeting was inaugurated by PPP leader and former Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa and committee president Malik Aftab Rabbani, while former judge of the Lahore High Court, Dr Munir Mughal chaired the proceedings. Javed Miandad hoisted national flag and inaugurated the sports festival participated by hundreds of athletes. Other noted guests, including Punjab Law Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Khaksar Tehrik President Dr Sabiha Arshad Mashriqi, Diwan Mohiuddin, Javed Akbar, Babar Butt, Qari Sher Alam, Surjit Singh, Bishop Joseph, film star Mustafa Qureshi and Pervaiz Rabbani were also present. Large number of pigeons and balloons were released and the participants were sprinkled with rose water and flower petals by an airplane besides sabeels of water and juices were set up along the route.
In view of the growing incidents of terrorism, the authorities made strict security arrangements for the participants of the central procession in particular, and for the masses in general, as police and Rangers were guarding sensitive areas. It was a public holiday and all business centres and offices were closed. Newspapers brought out special editions while electronic media aired special programmes to highlight the importance of the occasion. Mosques and all important government and private buildings were tastefully decorated with illuminations. Groups of volunteers and market committees decorated their own markets/colonies/houses and surroundings with illuminations, flowers, buntings, chandeliers and ribbons and many organisations held competitions among people for best decorated colony and street.
Children and youth erected the clay replica of desert and mountains of the Arab peninsula where the divine message was first dawned on the Prophet (PBUH). They played loud music that caused problems for the residents and passersby. However, several clerics and the citizens concerned objected to the playing of loud music at the replica of Arab hills at countless number of places in the city. Complaining to the pressmen a number of citizens said sanctity of the occasion was violated with the airing of loud Indian music by the people, which created scenes at various places but no untoward incident was reported. They appealed to the government to check this ugly practice in order to avoid law and order in future and ensure sanctity of the occasion which demanded completely solemn and religious attitude towards the festivities since the Holy Prophet (PBUH) dissuaded the believers to indulge in music and dance.
They complained that youth teased women passing by the clay models and decorations in various areas. Policemen remained helpless to stop such culprits despite complaints.
Special security arrangements were made by the district administration to maintain law and order. Volunteers of bomb disposal squad were deployed to meet any emergency while units of rangers and reserve police were also put on alert. Besides the central procession, several other small processions were also taken out in the city which merged into the central procession. Participants of the procession recited Na’ats and Qawwalis. A meeting was also held at Data Darbar after the culmination of the procession.
A grand Milad Conference was held by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) which was specially addressed via phone from Canada by its chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and participated by noted scholars and Na’at Khwans from across the country. The participants were offered dinner for which 1,000 goats were slaughtered. Dr Tahirul Qadri highlighted the significance of the occasion for the promotion of Islamic values and message of love, justice and peace. He castigated the western media and intellectuals for committing gross blasphemy in the name of freedom of expression.
Tahirul Qadri demanded that syllabus of all seminaries; universities and colleges should be revised and updated as per the needs of the present times. He asked the chief of the army staff and all the parliamentarians to play their due role in this regard. He said that at present no such chapter was included which preached the rights of the minorities, love for humanity, non-violence, hatred with terrorism.
He said this was the time to take tough decisions. He said it was time to differentiate between Jehad and terrorism. He said Jehad for the Almighty Allah is the supreme sacrifice but taking the life of innocent people and children was just like fueling the fire in Hell. He said these terrorists were against the teachings of Islam, as Islam does not allow raising the sword on a woman or child.
Tahirul Qadri said that the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the role model for every human being.