Pakistan

Parts of K-P celebrate Eid today

In Bannu more than three dozen people claimed to have sighted the Shawwal moon late Thursday

Our Correspondents July 17, 2015

In Bannu more than three dozen people claimed to have sighted the Shawwal moon late Thursday. PHOTO: EXPRESS

PESHAWAR/ BANNU: An unofficial moon-sighting committee in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has announced Eidul Fitr on Friday (today) in the province “after receiving testimony of at least 11 witnesses” who claimed to have sighted the Shawwal moon late Thursday.

Like previously the committee at Peshawar’s famed Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, led by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, has diverged from the country’s official committee when it comes to moon sighting. Some 13 witnesses were produced before the committee of which 11 were accepted by the clerics.

Separately, local clerics held meetings in different districts also and received multiple witnesses after it was decided that Eid will be celebrated on Friday in main districts but it would still be a partial Eid in the province.

Read: Eid moon sighted in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

Witnesses from Peshawar district, Kohat, Bannu, Bakka Khel, FR Bannu, and Bajaur Agency are said to have sighted the Shawwal moon.

Meanwhile, in Bannu more than three dozen people claimed to have sighted the Shawwal moon late Thursday.

A shura of local clerics, under the supervision of Mufti Abdul Ghani, was held at the Eidgah of the main mosque in Bannu after the district government refused to allow the committee to hold their meeting at the Municipal Committee Hall to receive witnesses.

“The clerics in the mosque heard the testimonies and examined the evidences in light of shariah,” said Ghani while addressing the local people.

He said that they are convinced that the Shawwal moon has been sighted and Eidul Fitr will be on Friday, pointing out that they received more than 30 witnesses.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (5)

kk | 9 years ago | Reply i fully agree that moon was seen in regions of KPK, my only question mr.popalzai is that where r u sir in rest of 10 months.the answer is that he belongs to group of Islamic thugs who penetrate our society to create confusion and divide. my ALLAH have mercy on them

Hassan | 9 years ago | Reply Shame on these mullahs.I am also from KP but cannot even think of celebrating Eid with these mullahs, their followers and Saudi Arabians.Anyone so keen to observe Eid with Saudi Arabians then go to Saudi Arabia please.You are a Pakistani so celebrate according to Pakistan. The treatment given to Pakistanis by these Arab countries is shameful but our shameless people follow them in everything from Eid to their cars number plates. Follow Islam not Saudis.According to moonsighting.com there was no chance of moon sighting even with telescope in the gulf countries but Saudis declared Eid. Oman is not following their decision because Omanis have got their own brains and eyes to see moon by themselves and not following anyone blindly like our people who r more loyal to Saudis rather than Pakistan.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @abdullah khan: why do you celebrate eid , Ramadan etc with Saudi Arabia, if you don't mind??, do you observe all other events with them as well?/

abdullah khan | 9 years ago | Reply We the pashtun of peshawar are alway starting fasting with Saudi Arabia and celebrate with them just like the entire muslim world inculding America and Europe, we dont believe these mulla shahdat either they belongs to pashtuns or other reigion of pakistan , who are very much interested to divide muslims in every islamic events

Azzy | 9 years ago | Reply On the 16th the moon was only a few degrees above the horizon when the sun reached the horizon in North Pakistan. Not even angels could have seen that moon which was drowned in the glory of the sun for the last few moments it was above the horizon. These people are a shame and enemies of Islam. PopAalzai had no choice as he had already declared the start of Ramadhan two days before it was due to start. He just added a second mistake to cover the first.

Replying to X