ISLAMABAD: In order to end the seasonal controversies over the sighting of the moon, the National Assembly on Wednesday passed the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill aimed at reconstituting the body and impose penalties on those who make announcements regarding the sighting of the moon before the official announcement.
According to the bill, a 15-member federal committee will be established that will function as the Federal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. The panel will comprise two ulema each from the four provinces and one each from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The committee will also have representation from ministries of science and technology and religious affairs besides Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). Grade 20 officers will be a part of this body, according to the body.
According to the bill, ulema included in the committee will be required to have a Shahadat ul Aalamiyya degree from an institute recognized by any of the Wafaqs recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) or possesses a master’s degree in Islamiyat having a minimum of fifteen years of experience in the relevant field.
The bill, while banning all unofficial committees, stated that the term of the federal body will be three years. The committee chairperson will be appointed on a rotational basis from the provinces and the federation and will be responsible for the decision pertaining to the moon sighting.
Only the Chairperson of the Federal committee or any member of the committee authorized on his behalf by the Chairperson thereof shall be responsible to announce the decisions of moon sighted or not sighted.
Whoever violated any provision of this law will be punished with fine up to five hundred thousand rupees. Electronic media that broadcast the news of moon sighting before the official announcement of moon sighting under section 15 shall be liable to punishment of fine up to one million rupees or suspension of their licences by the PEMRA or with both.
Any person or persons who give false evidence regarding moon sighting shall be liable to the punishment of imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine up to fifty thousand rupees or with both, as per the new law.
The provincial Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will comprise 13 members, Islamabad committee seven, while the district committees will consist of six members in which scholars from all schools of thought will be included. The bill will now be tabled in the Senate for approval.
