Declare third day of Eidul Azha as holiday: Mufti Muneeb urges govt

Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman on Wednesday urged the federal government to declare the third day of Eidul Azha as holiday since many people slaughter their sacrificial animals on that day.

Last week, the government had announced a three-day holiday on the occasion of Eidul Azha from July 31 till August 2.

First two days of Eid (August 1 and 2) fell on Saturday and Sunday which are already weekly offs in most organisations in Pakistan including government offices.

Many even said that the government had essentially given just one day holiday as Saturday and Sunday are already offs in the country.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Mufti Muneeb said that many people had requested him to ask the government to declare the third day of Eid as holiday as well since many people sacrifice their animals on the that day.

People belonging to middle class often offer the sacrifice on the third day as they get a better deal from the butchers compared to first and second day, he added.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman also said that some provocative videos have been circulating on social media for a long time, suggesting that there was a dispute between the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and Ministry of Science and Technology. "There is no contradiction between science and scholars, even those who made the calendar for Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary are our friends."

Mufti Muneeb also said that some internal and external forces are planning to push the country towards sectarianism. "It is a very delicate and dangerous situation, we appeal to our national security agencies to be aware of this and prevent it in a timely manner," he added.

He further said that there was no conflict between the religious scholars and people of Pakistan in this regard.