1,331 Eid Milad-un-Nabi processions to be taken out in Rawalpindi today

Rawalpindi

Under tight security cover, as many as 1,331 big and small Eid Milad-un-Nabi processions would appear from different parts of Rawalpindi on Thursday.

People would arrange 'langars' and ‘sabeels’ at different points of procession routes on the occasion where tea and ‘qehwa’ would be served to participants.

The big processions in the city would be taken out from Eidgah Sharif, Sadiqabad and Jamia Masjid Road where people would start gathering since morning. 

A large number of government and private buildings have been beautifully decorated with lights. Whereas, residents of different localities, including Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Tench Bhata, Chungi No. 22, Sher Zaman Colony, Mall Road, Saddar, Satellite Town, Dhoke Paracha, Pindora and Lalkurti have beautifully decorated their homes, shops and streets.

According to the city police officer (CPO), Rawalpindi, more than 5,000 security officials would monitor Eid Milad-un-Nabi processions in different localities. CCTV cameras have been installed along sensitive routes of processions, he claimed. Police officials would be deployed on rooftops of buildings to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

The local government has deployed dozens of doctors of the health department to check food items served in 'langars' along procession routes to avoid any untoward incident.

According to the commissioner's office, around 1,331 processions of Eid Milad-un-Nabi would be taken out from different localities. The majority of processions would gather at Jamia Masjid Road from where these would move through traditional routes, including Jamia Masjid Road, Banni, Asghar Mall Road, Trunk Bazaar, Lal Haveli, Sarafa Bazaar and Raja Bazaar. A big gathering of followers would offer 'Zohr' prayers at Fawara Chowk under tight security arrangements.

The processions would continue till late night. Some processions would gather at Fawara Chowk and Eidgah Sharif and finally culminate at Jamia Masjid Road where religious scholars would address the gathering. The big processions would appear from Chur, Jhangi Syedan, Dhoke Kala Khan, Chungi No. 22, Dhamial, Mughalabad, Adiala Road, Pirwadhai, Morgah, Dhoke Syedan, Tench Bhata, Tahli Mohri, Satellite Town, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Khanna Dak, Kurri Road, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Al-Mumtaz Colony, Eidgah Sharif Road, Dosehra Ground, Bagh Sardaran, Humak Town, Gulistan Colony, Gorakhpur, Rawat, Kalar Syedan, Chak Beli Khan, Dhoke Juma, Mubarak Lane, Jan Colony, Shah Khalid Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, Allahabad Mohallah and Dhoke Banaras. 

Rawal Town Administrator Imran Qureshi said that they would provide all necessary facilities, including generators, at Jamia Masjid Road where all processions would culminate. The followers should end their processions before 'Maghrib' prayers, he appealed. He said that they would fully monitor all processions.

According to religious scholars, followers would use vans and other vehicles for processions and they would recite 'Naats' and 'Darood-o-Salam' during the processions all the way. The religious scholars would shed light on the life and teachings of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the occasion. “Our private guards would also remain present along with processions to keep an eye on suspicious elements. They said that people should follow the teachings of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

The concerned authorities would block Jamia Masjid Road, Chungi No. 22, City Saddar Road, Bhabra Bazaar and Fawara Chowk for all traffic on Thursday.

The traffic authorities have already chalked out traffic and security plan for the occasion. Security officials would remain present along with every procession. Traffic wardens would divert all kinds of traffic to alternative routes during processions.

According to traffic authorities, people would not face difficulties in traffic flow because wardens would divert maximum traffic flow to Rawal Road and Airport Road. All roads, including Benazir Bhutto Road, Mall Road, Peshawar Road and Jhelum Road, would remain blocked due to processions but they would open one side of these roads for traffic.