- Ramadan begins in Pakistan Monday, gulf states and Peshawar to fast today
- Mufti Muneeb says crescent not sighted, Masjid Qasim Khan’s Mufti Popalzai claims receiving several testimonies from across KP
LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The entire country will observe the first of Ramadan on Monday with an exception of Peshawar and some tribal areas where a local cleric claimed Saturday that he had received moon-sighting testimonies from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Soon after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting, which was held in Karachi with Chairman Mufti Munibur Rehman announcing that he had not received a single moon-sighting testimony from any part of the country, Mufti Shahbuddin Popal Zai of Peshawar’s Masjid Qasim Khan announced that he had received three testimonies from Bannu, eight from Hangu, 12 from Tangi, three from Tarnab Farm and two from Shahi Bala.
Moreover, according to sources five men had approached Masjid Qasim Khan late on Saturday to record their testimonies, apart from moon-sighting claims telephonically made from across KP.
Other zonal committees also met in the four provincial capitals to sight the Ramadan moon and concluded that Ramadan 1 will be observed on Monday.
Resultantly, a large number of people in Peshawar and some tribal agencies will be observing the first fast of the holy month today while the rest of the country will have to wait for tomorrow.
HARMONIOUS DECISION:
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Zakat, Auqaf and Religious Affairs Haji Habibur Rehman said the zonal committees should respect the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s decision and assist it in deciding a single date for the beginning of Ramadan across the country.