QUETTA / ISLAMABAD: Yaum-i-Ashur will fall on Aug 19 as the moon of Muharram was sighted on Monday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, quoting Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad’s announcement on Monday, notified that the first day of the new Islamic Lunar Year 1443 AH, Muharram, would begin on Aug 10, Tuesday.

Meanwhile, religious leaders from different schools of thought agreed on a code of conduct to ensure harmony during Muharram and implementation of coronavirus SOPs during various activities in the month.

At a meeting chaired by Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East, the religious leaders agreed on the code of conduct which is in accordance with the Paigham-i-Pakistan initiative.

Hafiz Ashrafi said that maintaining peace and harmony during Muharram was essential and that this was the responsibility of all religious leaders.

“We all know that there are foreign forces and not to ignore the role of India in fanning terrorism in Pakistan,” he said, adding: “But we can thwart this conspiracy if ulema are united.”

The meeting noted that strict implementation of Covid-19 SOPs issued by the government should be observed in processions and gatherings.

The meeting agreed that religious leaders belonging to all sects should avoid making provocative statements and that banners or announcements of any religious groups should not offend others.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2021