RAWALPINDI (APP) - Like other big and small cities and towns of the country, Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour in Rawalpindi and its adjoining areas on Saturday. The faithful offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers at more than 450 mosques and open places where they especially prayed for the integrity, solidarity and prosperity of the country. After Eid prayers, thousands of faithful slaughtered animals including sheep, goats, cows, and camels following the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Eid congregations were held at more than 450 places including Jamia Masjid, Liaquat Bagh, Sports Complex, Commercial Market, Zia Masjid, Asghar Mall, Usman Ghani Park, Jamia Masjid Omar Farooq, Khyaban-e-Sir Syed Sector-III, Amir Hamza Masjid Pandora, Eidgah Sharif, Jamia Masjid Siddique-e-Akbar, Dhoke Chaudhrian and Zeeshan Masjid. Eid congregations were held in the mosques, Eidgahs and open places of the city, cantonment, Taxila, Murree, Kotali Sattian, Kahuta, Gujar Khan and adjoining areas. The Ulema and Khateebs highlighted the importance of sacrifice in their sermons and offered prayers for the integrity of the country in wake of recent incidents of terrorism and violence. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Police and law enforcing agencies had made elaborate security arrangements as more than 5000 security officials performed field duty on the first day of Eid ul Azha. On the directives of Deputy Inspector General Police, Rao Muhammad Iqbal, security zones were also established in the sensitive areas where sufficient officials were deployed to ensure security. SSP Operation Yasin Farooq, SP Potohar, Kamran Adil, SP Rawal, Zarat Kiani, and SP CIA Sultan Mehmood were assigned duties to monitor police performance in various areas of the city and cantonment. They had made special arrangements around Eid congregations where they installed walk-through gates at entry points. Additional security officials were also deployed in the main markets, bazaars and other places. The local political leadership, Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies and former ministers offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers in their respective areas on Saturday. Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal Zumarad Khan, MNA Malik Abrar and MPA Malik Iftikhar offered prayers at the Jamia Masjid Naseerabad, while PML(N)s Chaudhry Tanvir and Political Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhary Sarfraz Afzal offered prayers at Jamia Masjid Chaklala. Former Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed offered prayers at a Jamia Masjid in front of Lal Havaili, PML(N) MPA Sheharyar Riaz in Ratta Amraal, while MNA Muhammad Hanif Abbasi offered prayers in Satellite Town. Former MNA Haji Pervaiz Khan offered prayers in Kohati Bazaar, Shakeel Awan and Maqbool Ahmed Khan at Moti Masjid Liaqat Road, Rahat Masood Qadoosi at Satellite Town, former Provincial Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja at Nazim Potohar Town, and Hamid Nawaz in Dhamial.