Fawad Chaudhry claims Eid will be observed tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry Saturday once again claimed that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow on May 24.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to meet in Karachi today for the sighin of the crescent for the Islamic month of Shawwal. Chairman of the Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman will preside the meeting for the observance of Eid-ul-Fitr. 

The meetings of Zonal and District Ruet-e-Hilal Committees in their respective areas will also be held. it is expected that they will declare Eid on Monday May 25.

Addressing a press conference, Fawad once again criticised the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and argued that there is no need for such a committee in the modern era. He said the state was trying to accommodate religious groups whereas it should be above factions.

He said we should give precedence to the constitution and knowledge regarding the state’s laws rather than factions. He said the sighting the moon is no longer an issue nowadays, adding that in a few years people will be celebrating Eid on the moon.

READ MORE: Fawad Chaudhry calls for dissolution of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

“Islam is a forward looking religion,” he said, adding that it started with the world iqra (read). “It is a religion based on knowledge and science and technology,” he said, citing the Holy Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The minister rejected statements by people who said science and technology had no place in Islam. He also slammed clerics who do not use telescopes for the sighting of the moon.

He briefed the media on the criteria his department has set to determine the position of the moon and spoke about the app they released.

“There was the birth of a new moon on May 22 at 10:39 PM,” he said, and it will be in position after sunset on Saturday and will be visible in various parts of the country. He said Saudi Arabia has revised its moon sighting criteria this year which is why Pakistan will be celebrating Eid on the same day.

This is not the first time Fawad Chaudhry has locked horns with the moon-sighting committee. Earlier this week, he again demanded the abolition of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.