Moon-shy: Ramazan to commence from Friday in Pakistan

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

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.
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