Muslim faithful took part in the climactic ritual of the annual Haj pilgrimage on Wednesday, symbolically stoning the devil near Makkah. From dawn, crowds of pilgrims gathered in the valley of Mina, southeast of the holy city of Makkah, to throw pebbles at concrete pillars symbolising the devil. It reenacts the Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) stoning of the devil at three places where Satan is said to have tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s command to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS).

• Zardari insists true success lay in piety, service to humanity, compassion, and sincerity • Shehbaz says the spirit of sacrifice ensures lasting national cohesion and progress; exchanges Eid greetings with President Erdogan ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, extending his heartfelt greetings to the people of Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis, and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eidul Azha, said the occasion reminded Muslims of the spirit of obedience to Allah Almighty, patience, sincerity, and the great sacrifice demonstrated by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). In a message issued on the occasion of Eidul Azha, he said that the festival conveyed that sacrifice was not merely a religious obligation but a complete moral message. He added that true success did not lie in wealth, power, or outward grandeur, but in piety, sincerity, service to humanity, and compassion for others.