Tag: Ruete Hilal Committee

  • ‘Let Ruet-e-Hilal have some limelight as well,’ jokes Vasay Chaudhry

    ‘Let Ruet-e-Hilal have some limelight as well,’ jokes Vasay Chaudhry

    Vasay Chaudhry has subtly mocked the Ruet-e-Hilal committee over their Eid announcement process.

    Responding to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ARY Digital Network Jerjees (JJ) Seja, who questioned why the committee needs a prolonged live press conference, Chaudhry said: “JJ bhai. Some people get to be on TV just twice a year and only for 30 minutes each.”

    “Not everyone is as lucky as Badami,” he added cheekily. “So let them have some limelight as well yaar.”

    Later, replying to Vasay’s comments, Seja said: “Then some people should start doing what Waseem Badami does and limelight will automatically be their way.”

    “Till then please footage zaya na karein,” he added.

    Badami, who is currently hosting Shaan-e-Ramzan on ARY Digital, is one of Pakistan’s most renowned television hosts.

    Read more – Bilal Maqsood wants to make Fawad Chaudhry head of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

    Meanwhile, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan is the department which announces the sighting of the new moon and Eid, twice a year.

    It’s head is now Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad assisted by 150 observatories of the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

  • Consensus on moon sighting? New Ruete Hilal Committee chief for joining forces with Fawad Ch

    Consensus on moon sighting? New Ruete Hilal Committee chief for joining forces with Fawad Ch

    In a first, the newly appointed chief of Ruete Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir, has expressed his willingness to adopt scientific knowledge in moon-sighting “within the limits of Shariah”. 

    According to Dawn, Khabir made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry who had over the past year made headlines for his tussle with former committee chief Mufti Muneebur Rehman over the Islamic calendar and moon sighting.

    The meeting came after Fawad informed Khabir about setting up observatories in Islamabad for moon sighting. 

    “In this modern age, every problem has been solved with the help of scientific knowledge and only nations that use science are making progress. Islam and science are not contradictory but the importance of knowledge in Islam distinguishes it from other religions,” the publication quoted Fawad as saying.  

    The minister reportedly assured Khabir of full cooperation, adding that his office would support the committee to reach consensus with the help of science. 

    Earlier, Muneeb had opposed Fawad’s offer to use technology in moon sighting and expressed dismay over the minister developing a five-year lunar calendar containing all dates of Islamic events in Pakistan, including Ramzan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram. 

    The new chairperson, however, has expressed willingness to cooperate and even asked the federal minister to make every effort to take Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai on board to reach a nation-wide consensus on moon sighting. 

    Mufti Popalzai, of Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan mosque, had also opposed use of science and latest technologies. 

    Maulana Khabir has said he would also like to bring the committee on a visit to the ministry to brief them on the importance of scientific research and how it could benefit all, reports say.

  • Ruete Hilal Committee to be restructured, Mufti Muneeb likely to be replaced

    Ruete Hilal Committee to be restructured, Mufti Muneeb likely to be replaced

    The federal government has reportedly decided to restructure and empower the country’s premium moon-sighting body, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), by replacing its Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman and most of his peers.

    The RHC was established in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly (NA) but no rules and regulations for the functioning of the committee have been drafted to date.

    Reports by multiple media outlets quoted sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs as saying that a summary has been prepared along with a new bill seeking to reconstitute the moon sighting body and its Terms of Reference (ToRs).

    The summary, along with the draft bill, has been sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice for further deliberations and legal opinions. Imprisonment of five years besides a fine of Rs50,000 to Rs200,000 has also been proposed in case of a parallel announcement in contradiction with the government committee.

    The draft mentioned that the incumbent chairman and members of the RHC would be replaced, while some existing and new religious scholars would be inducted in the committee.

    It may be noted that reshuffling in the committee is said to be occurring due to the differences in dates of moon-sighting following Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry’s criticism over old-fashioned and outdated moon-sighting techniques rather than relying upon the scientific technology.

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 22, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’

    It was reported by Daily Jang senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Aitzaz Ahsan has said, “Noon League pr aitebaar nahi, apni party ko bhi raaye doonga k in se bach kr rahein.”

    The statement comes at a time when the two largest opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP, are in talks to work out a strategy and take entire opposition on board to get rid of the current government.

    ‘Lagta hai NDMA khatam krna parrayga‘

    According to Daily Jang, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing the coronavirus suo motu case, has said,“NDMA arbon rupay kaisay kharch kr raha hai? Lagta hai idaara khatam karna paray ga.”

    The Supreme Court (SC) was criticising the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) failure to ensure transparency in expenditures pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and locust control.

    ‘Baadal aur chaand’

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad chaudhary has said, “Baadal hain tou chaand kaisay nazar aaye ga? Ruet App pr dekhein, chaand nazar ayega.”

    His statement came as the tussle between the Science & Tech Ministry and the Ruete Hilal Committee, which is now witnessed at least twice every year over moon-sighting methods, began on Tuesday. Zilhaj moon was not sighted and Eidul Azha is to be celebrated on August 1 in Pakistan.

  • Bilal Maqsood wants to make Fawad Chaudhry head of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

    Bilal Maqsood wants to make Fawad Chaudhry head of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

    Bilal Maqsood of Strings has said that if he was the prime minister of Pakistan, he would make Fawad Chaudhry the head of Ruet e Hilal Committee.

    In a Q&A session with his fans on Instagram, when a user asked Bilal what he would do if he was to become PM, the singer responded: “I will make Fawad Chaudhry the head of Ruet e Hilal Committee.”

    Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan is the department that announces the sighting of the new moon. It is currently headed by Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman and assisted by 150 observatories of the Pakistan Meteorological Department and many religious scholars of different sects.

    On the other hand, Chaudhry who is the Minister for Science and Technology recently launched Pakistan’s first official Moon-sighting website and Hijri Calendar. He also said: “In my opinion, Ruet-Hilal Committee is no longer required (for moon-sighting).” 

    The minister faced a lot of criticism from religious circles and both Chaudhry and Mufti Munib ur Rehman are often involved in a banter whenever it comes to the announcement of Eid.

  • ‘Eid tomorrow,’ says Fawad ahead of moon-sighting committee’s meeting

    ‘Eid tomorrow,’ says Fawad ahead of moon-sighting committee’s meeting

    Ahead of the Ruete Hilal committee’s meeting scheduled for later today for moon sighting, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Shawwal moon could be sighted tonight.

    “The Shawwal moon was born on May 22 at 10:30 pm and will be visible between 7:36 pm and 8:15 pm tonight in Badin, Thatta and Pasni,” Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, and also tweeted it.

    The minister said that according to the calendar prepared by his ministry, Eid will be celebrated on May 24 in many countries including Pakistan. He also shared the link to ‘The Ruet’ app on Twitter.

    Saturday will be the last day of Ramzan and Sunday is the first day of Eid in many countries.

    The government has earlier announced six Eid holidays from May 22 to 27 both of the public and private sectors. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, Friday, May 22 to Wednesday, May 27, will be Eid holidays in the country.

    Meanwhile, addressing the presser, Fawad regretted that “there are always different announcements by the Reute Hilal Committee and Qasim Khan Mosque [of Peshawar, headed by Mufti Popalzai].”

    He also rejected the notion that there was no relation between the sighting of the moon according to Islamic practices and the use of technology in doing so.

    “Nowhere in the world is moon sighting an issue. With advances in technology it has become easier to sight the moon,” Fawad said.

  • Fawad Ch seeks abolition of Ruete Hilal Committee, again

    Fawad Ch seeks abolition of Ruete Hilal Committee, again

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has once again demanded the abolition of the Central Ruete Hilal [moon-sighting] Committee.

    Fawad, while criticising the committee, argued that there was no need for such a committee in the modern era.

    He also claimed that the committee, which is headed by Mufti Muneebur Rehman, wants Eid to fall on Monday, May 25 instead of Sunday, announcing to reveal motives of the committee behind such a move during a press conference.

    Last year, the minister had proposed that a scientific committee should replace the Central Ruete Hilal Committee for the sighting of the moon, which had led to the committee taking strong exception.

    Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman had asked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to “rein in” his ministers after Fawad had accused clerics of making lunar sighting for Islamic months a controversial affair every year as well as opposing the creation of Pakistan.

    “Fawad Chaudhry’s statement against the opposition is his personal matter, but he should exercise restraint while commenting on religious scholars and not misquote history,” he said. “Who knows… one of them might also have a role in your [Fawad] appointment.”

    He had urged the premier to “control his passionate ministers”, who “lack knowledge about the system”.