Ruet-e-Hilal committee to meet in Islamabad for Shawwal moon sighting

ISLAMABAD: Efforts of both the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governments went in vain as Eidul Fitr was celebrated in the province on Sunday following an announcement by Masjid Qasim Ali Khan in Peshawar.

Considering the development, the federal government has decided to hold the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting for Shawwal moon sighting in Islamabad instead of Peshawar.

“The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held in Peshawar,” said spokesperson for Ministry of Religious Affairs, adding that the venue had been changed due to security reasons.



According to sources, the meeting was being held in the provincial capital to put an end to the moon sighting controversy but to no avail.

“Both the federal and provincial governments have failed to convince a certain group in Peshawar to celebrate Eid on the same day,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

Earlier this week, prominent religious scholars in the country had declared that celebrating Eid on Sunday would be un-Islamic.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted that the Shawwal moon is likely to be sighted today.

The religious affairs ministry has requested media persons to avoid airing any news regarding moon sighting prior to the official announcement.

The federal government has already announced Eid holidays from Monday, June 26 to Wednesday, June 28.