Eid-i-Milad today

LAHORE – The nation will observe Eid Milad-un-Nabi today (Wednesday) to celebrate the birth of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with religious reverence and fervour. 
The day will begin with a 31-gun salute at the federal capital and 21-gun salute at all the provincial capitals while special prayers will be offered for the security, solidarity and prosperity of the country in particular and Mulsim Ummah in general. 
It will be a public holiday and all offices and business centres will be closed. The electronic and print media will highlight the significance of the day by airing special programs.
People from all walks of life have completed arrangements to observe the Day with fervour and zeal. On the occasion, hundreds of processions and Seerat conferences will be held all over the country to mark the auspicious celebrations. In Lahore the central Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession will be taken out from Railway Station and march up to Data Darbar, while dozens of small processions from different parts of the city will merge with the central procession. The participants of the procession will be showered with rose petals and rose water from aeroplanes. 
The extensive preparations culminated on Tuesday night with the taking out a torchbearer procession under the aegis of Central Milad Committee from Data Darbar. The participants riding vehicles, motorbikes, and on foot marched at The Mall up to the Regal Chowk, carrying torches and reciting Darood and Naats. Most of the city mosques and important buildings have already been decorated with lightings, flower beads and buntings.

Veena Malik a 'threat' to Islam: Pak religious leaders

Pakistan actress Veena Malik is currently a housemate in Bigg Boss 4.

Pakistani actress Veena Malik may be upping the TRPs by being part of the 'Bigg Boss' household in India, but in her country she is being seen as a "threat" to Islam.

In a recent television show, ex-'Bigg Boss' contestant Ali Saleem aka Begum Nawazish Ali had to bend backwards to defend himself and his colleague Veena who was accused of being a threat to Islam.

While Ali was accused of "bayghairti, baysharmi and bayhayai (being shameless)" for dressing up like a woman by religious honcho Mufti Abdul Qawi, Veena was accused of disrespecting Islam by behaving irresponsibly in India on public television.

Most Pakistanis have reacted strongly to the Mufti's reaction, contending that Veena is not an official representative of Pakistan and that she was in India to boost her career.

"She certainly did not enter the show as a Muslim contender. She was chosen for the show as a Pakistani celebrity (if you may) who became popular recently for playing an active role in making the cricket scandal further scandalous," posted Shyema on Dawn.com.

"I suppose it is okay for Veena to show her body in scanty silky saris and dance provocatively on local screens but the minute she starts showing that 'immoral' behaviour in India, oh no, Islam is in danger!!" Shyema wrote.

"What I don't seem to understand is that how did this woman who got famous mimicking politicians and dancing between trees in Lollywood movies, become a representative of Islam?" she added.

Nida, a reader, had an interesting take on the cleric's objections: "I'm surprised at the fact that this Maulvi could have time to watch TV and analyse her performance on 'Bigg Boss'..."

Another reader said the biggest threat to Islam was the mullahs themselves.

"What I don't understand is that the minute a woman steps out of the country, Islam becomes vulnerable for the mullahs. It's about time that mullahs realized that the biggest threat to Islam is they...themselves," wrote Abida Bokhari.