
Bohra community in Karachi celebrates Eidul Azha today
Listen to article
The Bohra community in Karachi is celebrating Eidul Azha on Friday with deep religious devotion and festive spirit.
Special Eid congregational prayers were held in various localities, including Saddar, Pakistan Chowk, Haidery, Baloch Colony, and North Nazimabad.
The largest turnout was at the Tahiri Mosque in Saddar.
Security remained tight across the city, as police and paramilitary Rangers were deployed outside Bohra mosques to ensure peaceful observance.
Following prayers, community members performed the traditional animal sacrifice, marking the religious significance of Eidul Azha.
The festival commemorates the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who was prepared to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to Allah. Eid also marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.
Meat from the sacrifices is being distributed among the underprivileged, as part of the community's longstanding practice of charity during the festival.
Furthermore, Afghan refugees residing in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, observed Eidul Azha on Friday.
Eid prayers were held in areas such as Hayatabad, Board Bazaar, Karkhano Market, Shamshato Camp, and Nasir Bagh, where Afghan communities offered Eid prayers in large numbers.
Muslims across the world observed Eid on Friday, while others will celebrate it tomorrow (Saturday), following moon sightings in their respective regions.
In Saudi Arabia, Eid prayers were held at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabwi in Madinah.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who performed Umrah overnight, joined the Eid congregation at Masjid al-Haram.
Meanwhile, millions of pilgrims arrived in Mina from Muzdalifah as part of the next phase of Hajj.
The pilgrims performed Rami, the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat al-Aqaba (the largest of the three pillars), and will continue the ritual over the next two days.
Eidul Azha was also celebrated across the United Arab Emirates. Dubai's largest gathering was hosted by the Kalemah Centre in Al Qusais.
Eid prayers across the UAE—including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah—highlighted messages of peace, sacrifice, and communal support.
Emirati leaders urged citizens to embody compassion and service during the festival.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
FO condemns Israeli strikes on Beirut
Pakistan on Friday unequivocally condemned airstrikes by Israeli forces on Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon on June 5, 2025. These attacks, launched on the eve of Eidul Azha, constitute a blatant violation of international law, sovereignty of Lebanon, and the ceasefire agreement of November 2024, according to a statement issued by the foreign office spokesperson. It added that the reckless use of force threatens civilian lives, fuels regional instability, and undermines efforts for lasting peace. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and the government of Lebanon, during this difficult time.


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Punjab gears up for safe, clean Eid
The Punjab government has launched an extensive security and sanitation operation across the province to ensure public safety and maintain hygiene during the three-day religious festival. A centralised coordination system involving the Home Department, police, local governments and waste management companies has been activated. Officials say the integrated effort aims to deliver a safe and clean environment for citizens celebrating Eid. A round the clock Central Control Room has been established in Lahore under the supervision of the Punjab Home Secretary. The Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), the control room will monitor all districts around the clock and coordinate law enforcement efforts and government directives. Enforcement of Section 144 has been put in place in several areas of the province. The orders prohibit public slaughter of animals, swimming or boating in rivers, canals, or dams, and the disposal of animal waste into manholes or waterways. Additional bans include the use of fireworks, drones, laser lights, pigeon flying, and installation of temporary mechanical rides within a 15-kilometre radius of any airport or airbase. The home department also announced a crackdown on unauthorised collection of animal hides. "No proscribed organisation will be allowed to collect hides," a spokesperson stated. Only registered and certified charities with the Punjab Charity Commission will be permitted to do so. Lahore police have finalised an elaborate security plan for Eid, deploying over 9,000 personnel across the city. The operation will be supervised by 6 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 22 Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs), and 83 Station House Officers (SHOs). The Dolphin and PRU forces will be on high alert, with more than 1,600 officers in the field, supported by 700 traffic officers to manage Eid traffic. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority will monitor Eid congregations, mosques, and imambargahs through surveillance systems. "All religious gatherings will be under close watch, and any violation of the government's directives will result in strict action," said Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq described the sanitation plan as a "challenge," particularly as over 360,000 tons of animal waste are expected across the province during Eid. Speaking at a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat, the minister said the targets set by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz were "ambitious but achievable." To tackle the enormous cleanup task, 11.69 million biodegradable bags will be distributed. Over 124,000 sanitation workers, supported by 15,204 temporary recruits, will work under the Suthra Punjab programme. The operation will utilise 125,794 machines and vehicles, in addition to the existing 29,638 sanitation units. Officials have designated 3,870 primary collection points and 4,262 union council-level camps, along with 1,661 collective slaughter sites to discourage public slaughtering. To monitor cleanliness in real time, all waste management and municipal offices have established local control rooms, while the central control room in Lahore will oversee the province-wide operation. "There will be zero tolerance for negligence," said Minister Rafiq. "Photographic evidence of all cleaning activities must be submitted and public awareness campaigns must include participation from elected local representatives." Following Eid, authorities will spray rose water and phenyl on roads for sanitation. Additionally, 2.83 million kilograms of lime will be used to disinfect affected areas. Evening roadside sales of sacrificial animals have been strictly prohibited, and officials have been directed to conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance. "No reports of livestock-related diseases or dengue have been received so far," Minister Rafiq noted, confirming that Livestock, Municipal, and District Administration officers are working in close coordination. As the province gears up for the Eid holidays, the Punjab government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe, hygienic, and peaceful environment for all citizens.


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Manufactured fears: how bias is hijacking India's public policy
Listen to article The history of South Asia is marked by a series of sweeping transitions — from the final days of the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) to the zenith and decline of the Mughal Empire (1526-1857), and eventually the onset of British colonial rule, which lasted until independence in 1947. Each phase in this complex history unfolded from the ashes of the former, interweaving legacies of power, cultural identity, religious interaction and imperial ambition. What began as fragmented rule matured into imperial dominance, and later succumbed to foreign colonization, culminating in one of the most significant geopolitical reconfigurations of the modern era: the birth of sovereign India and Pakistan. Post-independence, India has witnessed a dramatic transformation. It emerged as a pluralistic democracy, achieved considerable economic success and developed strong institutions. However, despite these national achievements, recent years have seen an unsettling shift. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India appears to be entering an era where public policy is increasingly shaped by a distorted perception of "risk" — a perception rooted in historical animosity and fueled by political ambition. The Reinvention of Risk: A Political Tool In an effort to assert unchallenged political supremacy, Modi has crafted a new, subjective narrative of risk that leans heavily on centuries-old communal tensions — particularly those tied to the Muslim rule between 1206 and 1857. Rather than addressing the multifaceted challenges of a modernising India, Modi's regime appears fixated on defining "risk" through a lens of cultural grievance and identity politics. This redefinition is not objective. It emerges from deep-seated biases and historical resentment, most notably against India's Muslim minority. By presenting Muslims — as well as ideas associated with them — as inherent threats to Indian identity, Modi has orchestrated a national discourse steeped in suspicion and fear. The goal is not merely to govern, but to dominate the public mind and emotional imagination of the people. This approach helps the regime create a fabricated consensus: that certain communities, and by extension certain values and ideas, pose existential threats to national unity and progress. It is a classic tactic in authoritarian playbooks — construct an enemy, shape the narrative and justify sweeping political control in the name of national security. Biased Risk Perception and Public Policy Distortion Public policy in a democracy should be informed by rational assessments of danger, grounded in evidence and proportional response. But when leaders allow personal or ideological biases to guide their perception of risk, the result is a distortion of public priorities. Resources that should be devoted to infrastructure, healthcare, education or regional diplomacy are instead diverted to managing imagined or exaggerated threats. This warped risk perception becomes particularly dangerous when it is disseminated through emotionally charged and repetitive rhetoric. The more fluently an idea is expressed — especially when it carries emotional weight — the more likely the public is to believe in its importance. In this context, Modi's anti-Muslim narratives have become dangerously fluent: echoed across rallies, institutional policies, social media and, most prominently, the Indian mainstream media. Media Amplification and Manufactured Fear A critical cog in this machinery is India's media landscape, which under Modi's tenure has increasingly functioned as an arm of state propaganda. Stories of imagined or exaggerated risks tied to Muslims or Pakistan are given disproportionate coverage. Even when fabricated or misleading, these stories generate public panic and resentment, creating a loop of fear that sustains itself. The more these stories are repeated, the more they dominate public consciousness. Eventually, they become self-fulfilling prophecies: the fear becomes the justification for more authoritarian policies. Those who challenge the narrative — who argue that the risks are overstated or manufactured -— are treated with suspicion, sometimes branded as traitors or "anti-national". This vicious cycle results in a public policy environment where actual national challenges — such as poverty, unemployment, climate change, education reform and regional peace — are relegated to the background. A fictitious war against "Kashmiris" "Muslims (inside)" and "Pakistan" is waged in headlines and policies, allowing the regime to deflect accountability and consolidate power. A Call for Reset: Reclaiming Public Purpose India stands today at a crossroads. While its economic and technological strides should position, it is increasingly being seen as a nation consumed by its internal divisions and insecurities. It is time for India's policymakers and citizens alike to reclaim their priorities. This requires recognising that the path to greatness does not lie in exclusion, hate or historical score-settling. It lies in inclusion, cooperation and evidence-based governance. It requires accepting that the obsession with defining and amplifying subjective risks only serves to distract from the real tasks of nation-building. Instead of letting fear define its future, India must now embrace the promise of its pluralistic past and its shared future with its neighbours. Conclusion It's time we befriended once again — as neighbours, as partners and as people with intertwined histories and shared destinies. We must explore mutual benefits — in trade, education, cultural exchange and regional peace. We must grow out of the subjective definition of risk — and replace it with a rational, inclusive vision of national security. We must ensure harmonious regional stability — by placing people's welfare, peace and prosperity at the heart of public policy. India's greatness lies not in stoking the embers of its past, but in lighting the path to a more inclusive, stable and forward-looking future.