QUETTA: Amid tight security, Eid was celebrated in northern districts of Balochistan on Monday. In the province’s other districts, including provincial capital Quetta, Eid will be celebrated on Tuesday as announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The northern districts of Balochistan bordering Afghanistan, where Eid was celebrated on Monday, included Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Musakhail, Duki, Kohlu, Barkhan, Loralai, Gulistan and Khanozai.

In Chaman town, Eid prayers were held at over 100 places. In other cities and towns of northern Balochistan big congregations of Eid prayers were arranged. Heavy contingent of security forces, including police, Levies and personnel of Frontier Corps, were deployed at mosques and open places where Eid congregations were held.

The districts’ Ruet-i-Hilal Committees in Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Loralai, Barkhan and Kohlu had announced Eid on Monday on the basis of evidence they received from the people who had claimed that they had sighted the Shawal moon.

However, some Ulema in these cities did not agree with the decision and asked the people to fast on Monday and celebrate Eid on Tuesday.

The prayer leader of the Central mosque in Chaman Hafiz Matiullah announced to celebrate Eid on Tuesday as, according to him, the local committees have not fulfilled the religious requirement about collecting evidence regarding sighting of the moon.

”Eid prayers will be held in many places in Chaman and other areas on also Tuesday,” Hafiz Matiullah said.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2022