ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Monday decided to draft a constitution for the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Focus of the constitution will be to evolve consensus for sighting the moon for the holy month of Ramazan and Shawal to smoothen the fasting process and offering the Eid-ul-Fitr across the country same day.
"The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was set up in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly. But, unfortunately since then, there are no rules and regulations in writing for its functioning and decisions with regard to moon sighting in the country.
So, the committee has decided to draft a constitution to streamline its all matters, especially for evolving consensus over the moon sighting for Ramazan and Shawal," Convener of the committee Senator Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro observed.
During last 39 years, he regretted that neither the ministry nor the Ruet committees took serious steps to remove flaws from the moon sighting procedure being followed on verbal directives of its central Chairman.
The body decided to hold its next meeting in Peshawar in which prominent Ulema from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would be invited for seeking recommendations to resolve the issue amicably.
Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro said that a questioner would be prepared following the next meeting in consultation with the Ulema which would be sent to the central, district and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees, heads of Wafa-qul-Madaris and prominent religious leaders belonging to different schools of thought for their suggestions.
After taking input from all the stakeholders, he said that a consensus draft of the constitution would be prepared and sent to the concerned quarters for its approval.
The committee questioned the ministry that why the number of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee members has been increased from nine to 15. While, most of its members are not prominent Ulema which is sheer violation of the 1974 resolution.
The Senate body also objected the prolonged tenure of the present Chairman of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which is spanning over almost 12 years. Whereas period of three year was determined for the Chairmanship in 1974 by the ministry.
Senator Muhammad Zahid Khan, Mufti Shahab-ud-Din of Jamia Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, Peshawar, Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs Shaukat Hayat Durrani, representatives of Ministry of Science and Technology and Meteorological department attended the meeting.
Shaukat Durrani said the Religious Affairs Ministry only facilitates the Ruet-e-Hilal Committees in holding meetings and it has nothing to do with their decisions regarding moon sighting.
Mufti Shahab-ud-Din said that the moon sighting meetings are being held at the Jamia Masjid Qasim Ali Khan for last 186 years.
He said the Ulema of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa want to resole difference regarding moon sighting in line with the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He assured to cooperate in evolving consensus over this issue of national importance.
Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Chairman of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman could not attend the meeting due to their other engagements.
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