The 61st birthday of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri was celebrated with zeal and zest around the world including Pakistan. The workers and associates of Minhaj-ul-Quran International offered special prayers for good health and long life of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. The main birthday ceremony was held in the central secretariat of MQI in Lahore in which 61 goats were slaughtered to mark the occasion. Five cakes of 61 pounds were also cut on the occasion after the prayer.

Hundreds of thousands of congratulatory messages were received from across the world on the official e-mail of GM Malik, Principal Secretary to Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. The birthday celebrations would continue for seven days. The workers of MQI exchanged greetings through text messages and telephone calls. They also paid glowing tribute to the social, educational, political, religious and welfare services of Shaykh-ul-Islam.

Addressing the central ceremony, Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, said that Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has spent 31 years of his life in spreading the real teachings of Islam in the world. He said that the sampling of MQI planted by Shaykh-ul-Islam had grown into a tree. He said that hundreds of workers of MQI would hold celebrations for a week to pay tribute to their beloved leader.