Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Eid in S Arabia, parts of KP today

LAHORE/PESHAWAR – Pakistanis will celebrate two Eids this time again as some religious groups claimed sighting of the moon on Monday and announced to celebrate Eidul Fitr with Saudi Arabia Tuesday (today).
But majority of Pakistanis would mark the day either tomorrow or the day after, following a decision by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee that will meet for sighting of the moon today in Karachi.
The unofficial moon-sighting committee of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan in Peshawar declared Monday night that Eidul Fitr would be celebrated today as the Shawwal moon had been sighted at several places in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, the provincial government neither endorsed the decision nor rejected it.
Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, Khateeb of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, announced that he and his fellows had received 10 evidences of Shawwal moon by people hailing from different parts of the city. He said that testimonies were also received from other parts of the province. “We are satisfied that the Shawwal moon has been sighted and Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Tuesday,” he announced in the presence of media.
Meanwhile, the local Ruet-i-Hilal committee in Mardan received 20 evidences of Shawwal moon. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Afghan, Charsadda also announced to celebrate Eid on Tuesday. Most people in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu and Fata areas including Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai and North Waziristan agencies would celebrate Eid today. Afghan refugees residing in camps and different parts of the province will also celebrate Eidul Fitr today.
On the other hand, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan would meet for sighting of Shawwal moon today after Namaz-e-Asr at Met Complex in Karachi, announced chairman of the committee Mufti Munibur Rehman. The members of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan would be assisted by officials of Met Office and Suparco, and they would also receive reports from Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees, which would hold meetings at their respective headquarters.
It has been a practice for last many years that a large section of population in Northwestern areas of the country observe Eid with Saudi Aribia, often a day or two before the rest of the country.
In a statement aired on state television Al-Ekhbariyah, religious authorities said the new moon had been sighted and that Ramazan ends on Monday with the feast to follow the next day. Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Qatar will also celebrate Eid today.