“Is Maulana Shahabuddin Popalzai in Canada or the US?”
“The khateeb of the historic Qasim Ali Khan mosque in Peshawar?”
“Is that an honorary position, or inherited or what?”
“I am not sure though I reckon it is not a democratically elected post….why are you laughing?”
“Had it been a democratically elected post Maulana Popalzai would have been out of a job!”
“Don’t be facetious anyway he is widely regarded as a formidable member of the Ruet-e-Hilal committee whose members, if I am not mistaken, get a stipend from the government.”
“Hamm. I suppose you are referring to Popalzai’s history of giving a different opinion than his numerous colleagues in other cities on moon sighting for the start and end of Ramadan.”
“Hey moon sighting is not part of the constitution which makes a consensus mandatory for the selection of a Chief Election Commissioner and….”
“Right but getting a consensus between two individuals notwithstanding their major political differences notably the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition should be easy right. With the Ruet-e-Hilal committee consisting of several members and one chairman whose salary I have heard is a tad higher than that of the others and….”
“Don’t be facetious – these Maulanas – are men of high repute….”
“Just for the record there is no female….”
“Hey back off these appointments are not part of a gender mainstreaming exercise.”
“Sorry just got distracted anyway I just heard that the Maulanas/muftis in Canada and the US have announced that they did not see the moon on Tuesday though as per astrology the first Ramadan was celebrated by the majority if not all on Wednesday and people began fasting, so there is discord in those countries as well.”
“I get it, and you reckon Maulana Popalzai maybe on a visit there.”
“Right.”
“Well for your information we are the trailblazers these days – we were the first to get a First Daughter, we were the first to change the constitution to allow a third term as prime minister, we are…”
“Gotcha and now this.”
“Indeed.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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