Pakistan

Moon-shy: Ramazan to commence from Friday in Pakistan

Striking a discordant note Mufti Popalzai announces Ramazan in K-P from Thursday

Web Desk June 17, 2015

PHOTO: REUTERS

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the moon of the holy month of Ramazan was not sighted in the country and that the first of Ramazan will be observed from Friday, June 19 in the country.

The announcement was made by Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Mufti Munib ur Rehman after chairing the meeting of the committee held at the Meteorological (Met) Office.

Read: Ramazan starts Thursday in Saudi Arabia

Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted Ramazan would begin from Thursday.

Every year, Ramazan moon sighting ends in controversy with several areas of Pakistan going against the official announcement.

Read: Chances of sighting Ramazan moon tomorrow extremely high: Met Department

This year, the government is making efforts to ensure that the Islamic month begins the same day across the country. The religious affairs ministry has contacted all stakeholders to follow and accept the decision of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee regarding the start of the month of fasting.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar announced Ramazan would start on Thursday.

No uniformity for Ramazan again this year

Just hours after the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced that Ramazan moon was not sighted in the country Mufti Shahbuddin Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Khan, Peshawar announced the sighting of moon and first fast will be observed in on Thursday.

Addressing the media late on Wednesday, Mufti Popalzai announced that the moon have been sighted and first Ramazan will be on Thursday, June 18, 2015.

COMMENTS (12)

US CENTCOM | 9 years ago | Reply As our president has often stated, the beauty and strength of our nation lies in the remarkable diversity we have all become a part of. Though we see instances of injustices and discrimination by a few, we witness more so a tolerant community of people with different religious beliefs. Throughout the year, people of different beliefs in the United States observe and/or celebrate their respective historical and religious days. So on behalf of the Digital Engagement Team here at CENTCOM, we would like to wish all Muslims around the world, and here in the United States, a very blessed month of Ramadan. Haroon Ahmad Digital Engagement Team– US CENTCOM

Yasser Ali Khan | 9 years ago | Reply No doubt KPK is the last area in Pakistan where cresent can be sighted at the end. KPK must assign a team of 1000 volunteers before every Ramadan and Eid to be distributed at higher grounds in every town of those KPK areas where Populzai gets so-called shahadats of moon sighting and few with Popalzai. No sooner some one calls Popalzai of moon sighting from a particular say Malakand. The volunter from that area must be called on phone at the same moment to confirm any vision of moon thus Popalzai can be really challenged and can be proven guilty of this false shahadahts.

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ziaurrehman | 9 years ago | Reply Ramadan Kareem!!! :D

Raheel | 9 years ago | Reply i wonder if kpk christians celebrate christmas on 24th december as well :s

yousafhaque | 9 years ago | Reply We are a traditional country.We do not break our traditions.Come what may

YA | 9 years ago | Reply How many times have I told Munib, to stop looking into the parking meter for the moon, but he keep thinking its trapped inside until released before Ramazan

Grafello | 9 years ago | Reply Popalzai needs another Zarb e Azb in his area to sight the moon properly.

Waqas | 9 years ago | Reply @mufti: I also back the official ruet hilal committee. People in Pak should realise that the ruet hilal comprises of different sects and groups and they have the official zonal committees set up all over Pakistan. The decision is not the Mufti Muneeb s alone but a consensus of the committee members. Based on official zonal sightings. Now Mulvi Popalzai has set up his own committee and will not accept any other ruling. He is only committed to making Fitna and division. I remember once in KPK there were storms but this Maulana still produced witnesses that hilal was sighted. Strictly speaking under Shariah law he would probably be lashed for rebelling against official rulings. If he was in Saudi he would probably be locked up in prison for going against official government announcement.

Random | 9 years ago | Reply How is moon sighting still a thing in 2015?

bechari-awam | 9 years ago | Reply I was surprised by MET department prediction of sighting moon on Wednesday evening. If you check moonsighting.com, the chance of moon-sighting was very slim even with optical aid in Pakistan. However, it was possible to sight at the southern parts of India and Middle east. In any case, the last place where moon can be sighted anywhere in Pakistan is KPK as per maps but they keep on proving themselves to be khans on regular basis.

mufti | 9 years ago | Reply i would buy mufti muneeb's decision. he alone is not into this, he gets support from lahore, karachi, islamabad, multan, quetta, kashmir etc. nobody saw moon anywhere. its just the peshawar guys who happen to be the only lucky ones here in pakistan.

objective observer | 9 years ago | Reply Always a day late and a dollar short.

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