PESHAWAR: The Afghan refugees and tribal people celebrated Eidul Azha with religious fervour in Peshawar and Mohmand Agency respectively on Tuesday.

The major congregation of Eid was held at Kacha Garhi, Peshawar where hundreds of Afghan nationals and tribesmen from different tribal agencies assembled for prayers. The religious scholars prayed for restoration of peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Afghan refugees also offered Eid prayers in others parts of the provincial capital where around half million Afghans have been residing. There were reports that Afghans also celebrated Eid in refugee villages in Charsadda district.

People also celebrated Eid in most parts of Mohmand Agency. Congregations were held in Ghalanai, the administrative headquarters of Mohmand Agency, and different villages. The tribal ulema had held meetings on Monday and decided that like past they would celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia.

Officials of the political administration and personnel of the security forces would celebrate Eid on Wednesday in the tribal region.

Meanwhile, the administration imposed Section 144 on forced collection of hides, dumping of animal wastes in streets and use of loud speakers in Peshawar districts from Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner Zaheerul Islam told Dawn that district administration had issued no objection certificate to 12 charity organisations in Peshawar, allowing them to collect hides of sacrificial animals.

However, he said that there would be no forced collection of hides and authorised charity organisations would not use loudspeaker during the campaign.

He said that ban had also been imposed on dumping of animal wastes in streets and bazaars of the district, because it would cause viral diseases.

Various charity organisations have displayed banners and posters in the city, asking people to donate hides of sacrificial animals to them.

The deputy commissioner said that home and tribal affairs department had issued a notification few days ago to strictly ban collection of hides of sacrificial animals by banned outfits across the province. Under the law, he said, proscribed organisations could not collect donations and other items.

However, despite the ban, some outlawed outfits have carried out campaign across the province to collect hides of sacrificial animals. These organisations have also carried out wall chalking in rural and urban areas of the province for the purpose.

The issue of collection of hides of sacrificial animals by banned outfits echoed in the provincial assembly during the recent session and Awami National Party parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak demanded of the government to stop outlawed organisations from collecting donations on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

Meanwhile, tribal people in various parts of Bajaur Agency also celebrated Eidul Azha on Tuesday.

The local people said that most of the residents of Mamond, Nawagai, Chamarkand and Khar tehsils celebrated Eidul Azaha with Saudi Arabia.

They said that Eid prayers were offered in those areas and animals were sacrificed by the tribal people.

Most of the bazaars and markets were closed in and public transport vehicles remained off-road in those areas, they added.