ISLAMABAD/KARACHI
ONLINE
Pakistani Muslims are observing their first fast of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak 1435 Hijri today as the crescent remained unsighted in the country on Saturday.
An announcement to this effect was made by Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Munibur Rehman after chairing the moon-sighting committee meeting held at Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) camp office.
“The committee is unanimous that first Ramadan will fall on Monday as no evidence of the sighting of a lunar crescent was received from any part of the country until the setting of the moon,” Mufti Muneeb had told a press conference.
Meanwhile, many northern tribal territories have announced to follow the suit of Saudi Arabia, where Ramadan started on Sunday.
On the contrary, some of the faithful observed the first of Ramadan yesterday after the announcement of an unofficial committee meeting which was held at Peshawar’s Masjid Qasim Ali Khan under the chair of Mufti Shahabudin Popalzai late on Saturday night.
According to sources, Popalzai’s declaration is based on only five moon-sighting testimonies while according to media reports, Ramadan crescent was also not sighted in India and Bangladesh and the two countries are also observing their first fast today.