Crescent controversy: Divided we celebrate
When it comes to Eid, Peshawar has a lunar cycle of its own.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been largely independent vis-à-vis observing Eid for the past several years, but the defiance was solidified on Saturday when not only the usually-cantankerous unofficial Masjid Qasim Ali Khan but the official zonal moon-sighting committee also declared that the Shawwal moon had been sighted across the province.
However, by the time that was announced, the central moon-sighting committee had already declared that the Shawwal crescent had not been sighted anywhere in the country, and Eid would therefore be observed across Pakistan on Monday, August 20.
Peshawar’s zonal committee protested against its parent central committee’s decision.
The controversy was further fuelled when the provincial government sided with the zonal committee and declared that Eid would be observed officially across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, August 19.
Meanwhile, people in North Waziristan and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have already celebrated Eid on Saturday, August 18, following an announcement of sighting of the new moon by a local, self-styled moon-sighting committee in Miramshah.
Centre-zonal split
For years, the unofficial moon-sighting committee at Peshawar’s Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, led by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, has diverged from the country’s official committee vis-à-vis new moon sighting for Eid.
The controversy over the crescent, however, deepened on Saturday as the official zonal committee in Peshawar, a subsidiary of the central moon-sighting committee, declared that they received 18 crescent-sighting testimonies from across the province.
The central committee, however, had already declared by then that no testimonies had been received from across the country.
The zonal committee protested against the centre’s decision, and called upon the provincial government to declare Eid across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday (today.)
Meanwhile, the unofficial committee at Masjid Qasim Ali Khan also said that they had received 16 crescent-sighting testimonies from different parts of the province, including Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Swabi and Mardan, and declared they would celebrate Eid on Sunday.
Eid in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
With the clash already reported, all eyes were on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.
On behalf of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour came to the fore and made an official announcement about the sighting of the Shawwal moon.
Speaking at the Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, he said that Eidul Fitr will be officially celebrated across the province on Sunday.
He added that the zonal committee in Peshawar also received 18 moon-sighting testimonies but the central committee refused to consider them.
“If they do not accept our testimonies – we do not accept their decision,” he said.
“We wanted the whole nation to celebrate Eidul Fitr together – but unfortunately that did not happen.”
Mufti Munibur Rehman, Chairman central moon-sighting committee, dismissed the decision of the zonal committee and said he would like to say to them what they would say to Miranshah’s decision of celebrating Eid on Saturday.
The nation would decide on Sunday whose decision on moon-sighting it accepted, he added.
And while three consecutive new moons may not be theoretically possible in a particular region, Pakistanis will religiously observe their own Eidul Fitr, on three separate days.
Eid in N Wazirisitan
Eid was celebrated on Saturday across the North Waziristan tribal agency and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda.
The decision to observe the festival was taken by a self-styled local moon-sighting committee that claimed it had received seven testimonies from Mir Ali, a sub-division of North Waziristan.
Barelvi clerics in Charsadda also announced late Friday night that they had received testimonies from their colleagues in various parts of K-P, and called for observing Eid on Saturday,
Meanwhile, the Charsadda police, on the directives of the district government, arrested the cleric who made the announcement.
The arrested cleric has been identified as Lal Rehman.
According to a police official of Shabqadar Police Station, Rehman has been arrested from his house in Matta Mughal Khel, Shabqadar, and has been put behind bars in the police station.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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The rest of the world celebrated Eid on Sunday. Looks like the KP government decision was right. Both waziristan central hilal committe of Mufti Rehman had biased decisions.
ENTIRE WORLD IS LOUGHING AT YOU PEOPLE !!
Do you realize it ?
Your controvercy could be solved if you accept our solar calender.
Zia. when this started in 70s. Govt. try to unified the eid like many other thing but our religious people want to do everything right religiously. So please stop blaming government for everything people have to take some
The question here is simple. Why should there only be one day that is stipulated as Eid, based on a moon sighting from one location for the entire country? If the moon appears earlier in northern areas than southern ones then so be it. Why the controversy? Its only because everyone is obsessed with unity and singularity rather than difference and pluralism. Let there be different Eid sightings and extend Eid greetings to those who celebrate on different days rather than insisting that everyone has to celebrate on the same day. We need to develop an ethic where we accept differences rather than imposing one practice for all. So I say Happy Eids rather than just Happy Eid.
What an expensive motorized telescope given to this dimwit who wouldn't know the head of a bull from its tail.
What a shame. Are we united in any single thing? Can't even celebrate eid together :| Why is central government sleeping. Is it too hard to formulate a strict law which ensures singel-day eid celebration country-wide and which jails the smaller gali-mohalla molvies from declaring EIDs on surprising days (like Waziristan people celebrate it even 2 days ahead of Saudia. shocking)
As per Scientific Moon Chart in link below, it wasnt possible to see Moon from Iraq-Iran to Afghan-Pak-India-China on 18th: http://moonsighting.com/visibility.html
Thesee so called, religious leaders(???) cause to divide the nation even on most imprtant festivities and do not let the nation celeberate collectively. And so they should not complain if common man dislikes them. Legislation is urgent need of the hour, with punishable violation to avoid such incidents.
So 18 people in 2 crore population province 'sighted' moon and all committess just agreed to them. Why couldnt they see it themselves? Non-Sense