Eid across Pakistan

Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated on Sunday across Pakistan and as every year, some controversy arose. However, the announcement of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee cleared the confusions and the whole country celebrated Eid on the same day.

The holy month of Ramazan is supposed to be a month of special spiritual significance for all Muslims, a month of jihad and sacrifice, a month of unity, a month of awareness of Allah’s forgiveness on us all, and a month of giving and gratitude. Unfortunately for the last several years in Pakistan the nation has been divided on the occasion of Eid instead of uniting.

Despite the presence of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa always shattered the unity of the country by announcing Eid with Saudi Arabia. It has been happening in for many years that whole Pakistan observes fasting and some parts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. This spoils the atmosphere of unity and solidarity among the people and also affects the writ of the state.

After receiving the ministry of science and technology, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Fawad Chaudhry seems to be very active regarding the sighting of the moon. Even before Ramadan, in his Twitter message on February 27, he announced that the holy month of Ramadan would begin on April 25.

Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry, in addition to giving details regarding the sighting of the moon, once again strained the atmosphere by declaring the sighting committee unnecessary. In this regard, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri intervened in time and declared Eid as the prerogative of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and saved the issue from escalating.

Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, termed the sighting of the moon as a ‘Religious’ issue and advised Fawad Chaudhry to refrain from interfering. However, the important thing here is that the information provided by Fawad Chaudhry regarding the beginning of Ramadan and the month of Eid turned out to be absolutely correct, but it was inappropriate to offend anyone by making remarks regarding the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The moon sighting committee usually consults with the Department of Meteorology, SPARCO, and other agencies. Similarly, if the services of the Ministry of Science and Technology are used, there should not be a problem and with this process, the division in the country on the occasion of Eid and Ramadan will end forever.