ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Mufti Munibur Rehman, lashed out at leaders of the Awami National Party (ANP) on Sunday for celebrating Eidul Fitr in the NWFP one day ahead of the rest of the country.
He said in a statement that moon sighting was the responsibility of religious leaders and not the prerogative of the ANP leadership. ‘Asfandyar Wali Khan (chief of the ANP) should control his ministers and ask them why have they created this mess,’ he said, adding: ‘I demand that Mr Wali should take notice of their decision to celebrate Eid without the sighting of the moon.’
In may be mentioned that ANP leader Bashir Bilour had said a couple of days ago that this time only one Eid would be celebrated across the country.
But besides ANP leaders, NWFP Governor Owais Ghani was also seen on TV channel offering Eid prayers on Sunday along with Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti.
Mufti Munib said Eid was not a festival but a religious ritual which should be observed in accordance with Shariat, not on some people’s will.
He said no previous provincial government had interfered in the work of the moon-sighting committee.
He said the ANP government had for the first time decided on its own to announce the beginning of Shawwal.
Referring to a statement of Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour that Muslim countries should celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia, he said: ‘Everyone knows that Saudi Arabia has a different system of government where no-one challenges official decisions, even regarding moon sighting.’
Shawwal moon was sighted on Sunday and Eid will be celebrated in the country on Monday.
Making the announcement, Mufti Munib said: ‘When moon appears it is seen by everybody.’
He said he had not taken charge of his office by choice and if anyone wanted to replace him he could contact the federal government.
Bashir Bilour said Eid was celebrated in several parts of the NWFP after the sighting of moon by some religious leaders in the province. ‘I think the religious scholars who declared Eid on Sunday are more learned and knowledgeable than Mufti sahib.’
PPP leader Fauzia Wahab said the ANP decision was tantamount to creating disharmony between the centre and the province.
An expert of the meteorological department said moon could not have been sighted on Saturday because it appeared during sunshine and only for a limited time.
Online adds: A TV channel quoted the railways minister as saying after Eid prayers that some ulema had made it a matter of ego.
‘If we celebrate Eidul Fitr with Saudi Arabia there will be no conflict or dispute. Those who are not celebrating Eid on Sunday are politicking. When there are no differences at the time of Eidul Azha, why should there be such dissents on Eidul Fitr?’ he asked.
He said Muslims all over the world should associate themselves with Makkah and Madinah.
He also said that it was a sin to fast on Eid day.
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