Eid to be observed across Pakistan on Thursday, Ruet committee announces after hours-long meeting

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee late on Wednesday announced the sighting of moon for the month of Shawwal, saying Eidul Fitr will be celebrated across Pakistan tomorrow (Thursday).

The announcement was made after 11:30pm after the committee's meeting in Islamabad that lasted more than four hours. It was presided over by committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, while representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Meteorological Department were also in attendance.

Separate meetings of zonal and district Ruet committees were held at their respective regional headquarters.

"[Moon-sighting] testimonies were received from across Pakistan," Maulana Azad told a press conference. He said although the visibility had been low in many areas, testimonies were received from Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Pasni, Peshawar, Mirpurkhas and other cities.

"Therefore, it has been decided with consensus that the first of Shawwal [...] will be on May 13, Thursday, and Eidul Fitr will be observed tomorrow," the Ruet committee chairman announced.

According to reports, there were sightings from Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan's Dasht and Turbat areas that were reviewed by the Ruet committee.

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader and Senator Sarfraz Bugti tweeted that the moon had been sighted in Sui area of Balochistan's Dera Bugti district by Bugti notable Haji Islam Bakhlani. He also shared his mobile number.

However, before the national body makes its announcement, Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, who heads the local unofficial moon-sighting committee at Peshawar's historic Qasim Ali Khan Mosque, declared Eid tomorrow.

"More than 175 moon-sighting testimonies were received from different areas of the province; we checked and confirmed the testimonials," Popalzai told media, adding that the testimonies had been forwarded to the central Ruet committee as well.

In Quetta, zonal Ruet committee member Qari Abdul Hafeez said the body had not received any authentic moon-sighting testimonies from the Balochistan capital.

Addressing a press conference after the committee's meeting, while unverified reports were being received from Chaman, Zhob, Pasni and other areas of the province. He requested the central Ruet committee to review the testimonies received from Balochistan and take a decision.