The nation celebrated Eidul Fitr on Saturday with fervour after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal committee announced on Friday night that the Shawwal crescent was sighted in different parts of the country.
However, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa celebrated on Friday. While the country began Ramazan with the rest of the Muslim world on May 17, Eid fell on different days.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee – the body officially recognised as the authority on moon-sighting in the country – announced the religious holiday on Saturday after its chairman, Mufti Muneebur Rehman addressed a press conference on Thursday at Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) camp office in Karachi.
Worshippers pray to mark Eidul Fitr at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan
PHOTO: AFP
Meanwhile, The zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees met at their respective headquarters simultaneously.
Despite efforts by the government, and even the Met Office’s technical predictions, the Qasim Ali Khan Mosque in Peshawar announced Eid a day earlier. In Peshawar, the unofficial moon sighting committee of the mosque under the patronage of Mufti Shahabudin Popalzai once again announced Eid at 10pm when 14 witnesses testified.
While the central Ruet-e-Hilal committee announced that Eid will not be observed, a member of the zonal committee in Peshawar, Hafiz Hashmat, was of the view that the central committee should have waited for local testimonies in Peshawar.
Similar announcements were made in the districts of Mohmand, Bajaur, North Waziristan as well as Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has, however, decided to celebrate Eid on Saturday.
Pakistanis offer Eidul Fitr prayers at the at the Jamia Mosque in Rawalpindi on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
PHOTO: AFP
People offer Eidul Fitr prayers at the at the Jamia Mosque in Rawalpindi on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
PHOTO: AFP
People offer Eidul Fitr prayers at the at the Jamia Mosque in Rawalpindi on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistani Muslims exchange Eid greetings to one another after offering Eidul Fitr prayers at an Eidgah ground in Karachi on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistani worshippers pray to mark Eidul Fitr at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on June 16, 2018. Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid festival, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan
PHOTO: AFP
