PESHAWAR, Oct 23: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in most parts of the NWFP and Fata on Monday, two days ahead of the rest of the country, after an official announcement was made by the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Sunday night.

Headed by Maulana Sher Ali Shah, the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting was also attended by Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Maulana Amanullah Haqqani.

The committee said that it had received 38 evidences on the sighting of the Shawwal moon from Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Bannu, Lower Dir, South and North Waziristan Agencies, Karak, Nowshera, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, Malakand Agency, Swat and Kurram Agency.

Other local moon-sighting committees across the province also announced the sighting of the moon.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani offered his Eid prayers at Sikandarkhel mosque in his native town Bannu.

However, NWFP Governor Lt-Gen Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai would offer Eid prayers in Eidgah on Wednesday in line with the announcement of the Central Reut-e-Hilal Committee.

In Peshawar, a majority of the mosques in Hayatabad, Gulbahar, Faqirabad, Ganj, Shaheen Muslim Town, Nishtarabad and in interior parts of the city organised Eid prayers while a very few mosques in the cantonment area held congregation for Eid prayers.

The provincial capital wore a deserted look on Monday and traffic remained very thin.—APP