PESHAWAR: Controversial Khateeb Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, who mysteriously disappeared before Eidul Fitr, surfaced in Peshawar and led Friday prayers at the Qasim Ali Khan Mosque.

Close friends and family members remained tight-lipped about the whereabouts of Mufti Popalzai.

However, the mystery shrouding his disappearance was resolved when his pictures appeared on social media offering prayer in Dubai.

Sources said that the Mufti arrived from Dubai to Islamabad on Monday and reached Peshawar on Thursday. These sources said that the Maulana had disappeared in Islamabad and was seen in Dubai.

“This was pleasant surprise to see Mufti Popalzai in Qasim Ali Khan mosque leading Friday prayers,” said a close associate of Popalzai. He said that Mr Popalzai did not explain his disappearance, but said that his leaders had also faced such agonies in the past.

Mufti’s disappearance shortly before Eid generated discussion among his followers on social media.

He heads private moon sighting committee which is considered challenging domain of the central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee. People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining tribal area followed announcement of the private committee in the absence of Mufti Popalzai and celebrated Eid one day before the announcement of the central committee.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017