Islamabad, May 15: Tens of thousands of Muslims across Pakistan took part in colourful rallies held under tight security to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed today. Streets across Pakistan were decorated with bunting and small models or replicas of Prophet Mohammed's tomb and Khana-e-Kaaba (home of Allah) in Saudi Arabia put on display.
In the southern port city of Karachi thousands of processions were taken out in different areas. Streets were illuminated yesterday and decked out with bunting and banners bearing sayings of the prophet.
Children sang praise and religious scholars gave sermons on the life and teachings of Mohammed. "We have increased the patrolling and thousands of policemen and para-military personnel have been deployed in the city to avert any incident," Tariq Jamil, chief of police operations said.
In the northwestern city of Peshawar, some 45 kms from the Afghan border, security forces were on alert as hundreds of small and big processions got underway. Some 3,000 tribals attended a meeting convened by the Sunni party Jamat-e-Ahle Sunnat in Landi Kotal near the Afghan border, while 5,000 people took part in a procession in the old part of the city.
More than 20,000 people including students, traders, religious scholars, politicians, and activists of religious and political parties took part in the main procession in Multan. Bureau Report