Eid-ul-Fitr 2024: Pakistan Leaders’ Plans & Celebrations
President Asif Ali Zardari will observe Eid al-Fitr in Nawabshah, his hometown, continuing a longstanding tradition, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to offer prayers in Lahore’s Model Town. The observance of Eid across Pakistan comes as political leaders mark the occasion in their respective constituencies and residences, amid heightened security measures nationwide.
Nawaz Sharif, a key figure in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will perform Eid prayers in Jati Umra, a family estate near Lahore. The Sharif family, who have previously celebrated Eid in Saudi Arabia, will remain in Pakistan this year, according to reports. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will similarly celebrate Eid in Jati Umra, alongside the Sharif family.
In Sindh province, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will mark Eid in Sehwan, a town known for the shrine of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), will offer Eid prayers in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, the ancestral village of the Bhutto family and the final resting place of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Suhail Afridi will lead Eid prayers in Peshawar before traveling to his native Khyber region. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti will offer Eid prayers in Quetta. Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani will celebrate Eid in Multan, while National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will attend prayers in Lahore. Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah will offer prayers in Nawabshah.
Opposition figures are also observing the festival. Maulana Fazlur Rehman will celebrate Eid in his native village of Abdalkhel after spending time in Islamabad. National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai will spend Eid in Chaman, his hometown. Barrister Gohar, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will observe Eid with communities affected by recent floods in Buner. Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed will celebrate at his residence, Lal Haveli, in Rawalpindi.
Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, will mark Eid from Adiala Jail, where he is currently incarcerated. His party has faced significant political challenges in the wake of the February 8th general election, with many of its candidates contesting results under the banner of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Authorities have implemented special security arrangements across the country, particularly around locations where political leaders are expected to gather. These measures are intended to ensure the safety of citizens and maintain public order during the Eid festivities. Asif Ali Zardari was elected president on March 9th, 2024, following a power-sharing agreement between the PML-N and PPP, with Shehbaz Sharif confirmed as Prime Minister, a deal announced on February 21, 2024.