ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee announced on Monday that the crescent for the Islamic month of Muharram was not sighted; thus, the new Islamic year will begin on Wednesday, while Youm-e-Ashura will be observed on Friday, June 26.
The announcement came after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held in Lahore, where religious scholars and officials examined moon sighting reports from across Pakistan.
The session was chaired by Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad and attended by members of the Central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees.
Representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) also participated to support the verification process.
Officials confirmed that no credible moon sighting testimonies were received from any part of the country.
Simultaneous meetings of zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees were also conducted in their respective regions, where local observers and relevant authorities assessed visibility conditions and similarly reported no sighting of the Muharram crescent.
Following unanimous agreement, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee declared that 1st Muharram will fall on Wednesday, June 17,
Faithful hold processions and religious gatherings across the country in Muharram, while religious scholars address huge gatherings amid tight security, with thousands of law enforcers deployed to ensure security.
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, is observed with religious significance across the Muslim world, particularly in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions at Karbala.
