Eid ul Azha passed with peaceful way.
CHITRAL: Eidul Azha the religious component of Muslims worship passed here at Chitral with a peaceful way. Majority of Khateeb at different Jamia Masjid offered their Eid prayer at 9 to 9.15 O clocks. Hence at some places police were also red alert along with special branch staff. Chairman standing committee on Kashmir affairs and former federal minister of state Shahzada Muhayuddin also offered his Eid prayer at Shahi Masjid Chitral. Khateeb Shahi Masjid Maualana Haji Khaleequz Zaman offered special prayer for prosperity and safety (protection) of the country and eradicating of tense situation from motherland. Thousands of faithful attended Eid Prayer at different Jamia Masjids of Chitral. To overcome any untoward situation Chitral police performed excellent duty and were red alert before Masajids as security guard and this Eid passed with very peace at Chitral. Hence according to a survey some 10% people sacrifices animal on this occasion due to high prices of sacrificial animals and acute poverty in the district. But majority of people purchased beef, mutton and meat from butcher shops who has sharp their knives and sold it from 50 to 100 rupees extra from its real price as comparative in routine. Some parents also complained those shopkeepers selling shoes, cloths, and sweeter and other essential things for Eid by charging 200% extra from its real rate. Besides it a long queue of people was seen in front of Utility stores of Chitral who were waiting of their turn to purchase only 2 KG sugar on subsidize rate.
A number of customers complained that although government have announced selling of sugar at their faire price shops or through their nominated and elected persons but there is no such faire price shop from where they get sugar @ 48 rupees per kg. When this scribe contacted SHO police station who replied very simply and innocently that price of essential goods using in Eids are usually hiking in these days in the whole country and Chitral is also a part of this country and this society so it is not a new problem. On the other hand thousands of Chitral people could not meet their relatives because main road of Chitral have been blocked at Lawari top due to heavy snowfall while National Highway Authority not allowing Chitrali passengers to travel inside (through) the tunnel except of a few one (influential persons) which has already completed its excavation. As well the Governor NWFP and provincial Minister for Population welfare Saleem had assured the people that they would be allowed to travel inside th tunnel in case of blocking of main road. District Nazim of Chitral Maghfirat Shah also strongly condemned inhuman behavior of NHA who not give permission for traveling inside the tunnel. He also warned of dire consequences if NHA not changed its dual policy and not allowed people to travel through the tunnel. But the most remarkable distinguished of Chitral which is famous on world wide is its peaceful environment where there is no suicide attack and no bomb blast where people can move easily without any fear, terror and tension. Because Chitral,s people are naturally peace loving who live and like peaceful environment.
G.H. Farooqi PO Box No. 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan phone NO. 03025989602, 03469002167, 0943-302295, 414418
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