Pakistanis celebrated Eid Al Adha on Wednesday with police and paramilitary rangers providing elaborate security in cities across the country in view of threat of terrorism.
The day's festivities, including special morning prayers in mosques and at open grounds followed by slaughtering of sacrificial animals, passed off peacefully except for two incidents.
According to media reports, two groups traded fire in the town of Khuzdar in southern Balochistan province as a dispute erupted over choice of a prayer leader at an Eid congregation.
Authorities rushed police reinforcement to the site of the clash and the situation was brought under control, the reports said, adding that the 18 injured were hospitalised.
In the other incident in Lyari area of the port city of Karachi in Sindh, some people tried to snatch hides of sacrificed animals and opened fire when the locals resisted, killing two people and injuring several. Police presence in the area was beefed up and a search was launched to apprehend the culprits.
Due to exorbitant prices of animals brought to the cities for sale by villagers, people largely opted for collective sacrifice of animals for which arrangements were also made by various social bodies.
Celebrations were muted in some areas of the country because of devastating floods that affected 20 million people, of whom 7 million remain homeless.
Most mosques also added additional security yesterday to guard against attacks by the Taliban and other Islamist groups.
Earlier this month, at least 70 people died when a suicide bomber hit a mosque frequented by anti-Taliban elders and a grenade exploded at another place of worship in the country's northwest.
In Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani separately received visitors including diplomats and exchanged greetings on the occasion.
The president, in his message to the nation, asked the countrymen to remember less fortunate brethren on the festive occasion and extend all possible help to them.
Zadari telephoned Nawaz Sharif, chief of the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N, and exchanged greetings.
He also expressed his condolences over the demise of Sharif's uncle. Gilani also telephoned the former prime minister.
Government and private establishments and educational institutions were expected to resume normal working from Monday after the Eid and weekend holidays.
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