KARACHI – After days of fasting, Eidul Fitr was celebrated with great religious zeal and reverence in the metropolis under tight security on Monday. The auspicious day dawned with special prayers for peace, progress and prosperity of the country, unity of Ummah, liberation of Muslim territories, and resolution of the Kashmir issue. Eid prayers were offered at around 1,100 places, with large congregations held at Memon Mosque, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Nishtar Park and National Stadium. All important public and private buildings, including shopping centres, had been aesthetically decorated and illuminated.However, the main Eid congregation was held at Old Polo Ground, where federal and provincial ministers, officials of diplomatic missions from Islamic countries offered Eid prayers. Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, led Eid prayers at Markazi Eidgah in FB area. In their Eid sermons, clerics stressed the need for unity among the Muslim Ummah to crush the indiscriminate aims of extremists and terrorists. They demanded the United Nations and Muslim countries to play their role to stop the killings of Muslims in Myanmar. They urged the people to follow the teachings of Islam which, according to them, is the religion of peace and affection.Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Sindh Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq and other notables offered Eid prayers at a mosque near the Bilawal House. After saying Eid prayers, the president exchanged greetings with the people. Meanwhile, the suspension of mobilephone service at 8:00 pm on the eve of Eid created problems for the citizens to contact their loved ones and exchange Eid greetings with them. The federal government had suspended cellphone service following intelligence reports about terror threats to sensitive installations, markets, mosques and key places in Lahore, Multan, Karachi and other major cities. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had apologised to the public for this inconvenience caused. Besides, security checks were made stringent at mosques, eidgahs, imambargahs and government installations. A large number of law enforcers had been deployed across the metropolis to maintain peace and avoid any untoward happening.Meanwhile, tens of hundreds of families thronged Clifton and Hawksbay beaches and other recreational spots to celebrate the religious festival.