Clerics strike back as controversy over Eid date continues to divide Pakistan

In this undated file photo, a boy attends Eid Al-Fitr prayers with others at a mosque in Rawalpindi. Pakistan’s official moonsighting committee struck back at the Ministry of Science and Technology on Sunday, rejecting Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s announcement to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr on June 5. (Reuters)

• The dispute follows information minister’s announcement marking June 5 as the day
• Moonsighting committee warns Chaudhry against challenging its government-sanctioned mandate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s official moonsighting committee, also known as the Ruet-e-Hilal, struck back at the Ministry of Science and Technology on Sunday, rejecting Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s announcement to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr on June 5.
For decades, on the eve of Ramadan, the country has found itself divided on whether or not a new moon has been sighted. As a result, the country’s northwest regions often start Ramadan a day ahead of the Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh provinces, which was the case this year, too.
To put the matter to rest, Chaudhry, on May 3, had constituted a committee comprising five scientists who were tasked with drawing out a five-year lunar calendar which would highlight major religious occasions based on the sighting of the new moon.
The move, however, enraged Pakistan’s top clerics who have traditionally used telescopes for the purpose.
Earlier this week, during an interview with a local television channel, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s chairperson, Muneeb-ur-Rehman, slammed Chaudhry for his comments wherein he said that “Eid will be celebrated on June 5.”
“It’s the Ruet-e-Hilal committee’s choice if they want to follow Pakistan’s first official moonsighting app or not,” Rehman said, commenting on the mobile app launched by Chaudhry on May 30.
“Can someone challenge the government’s decision in Saudi Arabia over moonsighting or announce Eid several days before without catching a glimpse of the new crescent,” he asked, adding that Chaudhry’s announcement was “not endorsed by the government of Pakistan” and that he was “challenging the government-appointed committee’s writ.”
“We don’t accept his [new lunar] calendar or [mobile] app. Our committee will convene on Tuesday [June 4] to declare when Eid will be celebrated based on our observations and reports from witnesses of the new crescent,” Rehman told Arab News.
Chaudhry, for his part, told Arab News that he had “tried to reason with Rehman” over the matter, but to no avail, adding that the calendar had been sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology for approval but was unlikely to get a clearance before Eid.
The tug of war has resulted in creating a lot of confusion, with several Pakistanis divided over the matter.
“Eid will be celebrated according to the date set by Fawad Chaudhry, not by Ruet-e-Hilal’s announcement,” Ziad Shafqat, a government official, said.
Meanwhile, Bisma Raziq, a student and a part-time professional said that she would “celebrate Eid based on the Ruet-e-Hilal committee’s decision.”