Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow as Shawwal moon sighted

ISLAMABAD — The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has announced that the Shawwal moon has been sighted, therefore, Eid in Pakistan will be observed tomorrow (Sunday).

The committee’s session to sight the Shawwal moon was held in Karachi with Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman in the chair, while meetings of the zonal committees took place at their respective provincial headquarters.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department experts were also a part of the session.

Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman announced the sighting of the moon.

Earlier in Quetta, the province’s zonal committee announced that it has received a few testimonies from Pasni and Ormara. “We have informed the Central committee of this,” said Qari Abdul Rasheed.

The zonal committee said the final decision will be made by the Central committee.

Mufti Muneeb, addressing the media, had said that “when the final decision will be made, it will be announced before the media”. He said it was “not appropriate” to speculate at this time.

Religious affairs minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that the committee will be the one to make the final decision about the observance of Eid. “The matter is a religious one, which needs religious expertise,” he said.

He said input from science “will never be turned away and can be used” but it is “unacceptable” to declare the moon sighted in advance without eyewitness testimony.

Qibla Ayaz of the Islamic Council of Ideology said that if Badin and other cities of Sindh provide testimony, there will be greater chances that Eid will be held tomorrow. He said that word from these cities is being awaited.

Speaking of technology, he said that Ulema do not oppose science but “the tradition of Ruet must be kept alive”.