Thousands attend MQI’s Milad March in three cities

Dated: 06 February 2011

Thousands of people participated in the Milad March organized under the banner of Minhaj-ul-Quran International and expressed their love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). The March, which was meant to welcome the advent of the holy month of Rabi-ul-Awwal and for the demonstration and promotion of love and respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), started from the Assembly Hall and concluded at Data Darbar. Attended by thousands of people, the event was also simultaneously held in Gujranwala and Rawalpindi. People were carrying placards with slogans written on them, including the images of heart with name ‘Muhammad’ inscribed on them in red. The participants were also carrying the posters of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, who has dedicated his life for the promotion of love and respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in the world through his writings and speeches. The route of the March was fully decorated with banners put up to welcome the advent of the Rabi-ul-Awwal urging the Muslims to celebrate this month. Dr Raheeq Abbasi, central Secretary General of MQI and Irshad Tahir, Amir of MQI Lahore chapter, jointly led the Milad March, while other central and provincial leaders were also present on the main truck.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi said that only those societies have the capacity and determination to eradicate the evils of terrorism and extremism that are charged with the love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He said that love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has attracted thousands of people to the March. All of these people are ambassadors of peace and strongly condemn the forces of terrorism, extremism and radicalism, which have brought the Islamic teachings into disrepute. He said that the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is the greatest occasion of happiness for the Muslims around the globe. MQI, he added, has been holding annual Mawlid-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) Conference in Lahore, an event which is a matter of pride for the Pakistanis. He regretted that the government of Punjab is dilly-dallying on giving permission to MQI to organize the event this year. Warning the government about any possibility of hindrance, he declared that millions of people would attend the Conference in Lahore on February 15 and promote the Islamic message of love, peace and harmony in the world. He demanded of the provincial and federal governments to provide fool-proof security to the Conference and desist from any obstructive activity.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that there is no greater occasion than the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for the Muslims around the world and the candle of the Prophetic love continues to light in their hearts. He said that terrorism, extremism and conservatism have nothing to do with Islam. Rather they are direct opposites to what Islam stands for. The terrorist philosophy has not stemmed from Madina but from somewhere else. He said that the conduct of spiritual gatherings and Milad Conferences during Rabi-ul-Awwal would help eliminate the attitudes of terrorism and extremism. He said that the work being done by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for the promotion of Islamic message of love and peace would end up eradicating this evil menace from our midst. “He whose inner being is enlightened with the love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) becomes the advocate of human welfare, love and peace in the society,” he concluded.

The thousands of participants were chanting slogans to welcome the Rabi-ul-Awwal. Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani, central Amir of MQI and Syed Farhat Hussain Shah led the Dua for peace and prosperity of Pakistan to conclude the Milad March.