Fawad asks moonsighting committee to apologise on false assessment

LAHORE:  Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday asked an apology from the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for making a fasle assessment.

Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhry said that the moonsighting controversy in the country was not dying down anytime soon.

The minister said that in fact, it has taken another leap ever since the science and technology ministry launched its own website for this purpose.

Chaudhry further said that those having wisdom can understand but a certain section of the society could not be convinced. He did not elaborate on it further.

Recently, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the moon for the month of Safar was not sighted on Sunday (29th September), meaning the first of Safar would be Tuesday (1st October).

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However, according to the website pakmoonsighting.pk there was sufficient evidence of moonsighting on the day.

The minister said that pictures in that regard have been released on the internet, which contradicts the announcement made by the religious body. He asked the committee members to apologise for making a wrong assessment.

Ministry of Science and Technology’s lunar calendar has conflicted with the Ruet-e-Hilal committee’s date, for the first time after its launch.