SWABI, Dec 3: With Eid-ul-Fitr round the corner, and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, a coalition of religious parties, in control, it is hoped that unlike previous years a multiple Eid would be avoided this year, specially in the NWFP.

This was the focus of the rabita programme of Abaseen Union of Journalists which was also attended by the MMA members of the national and provincial assemblies, and Ulema here on Tuesday.

Maulana Khalil Ahmad, an MNA said: “Eid-ul-Fitr is our most sacrosanct occasion and, it should be celebrated in an exemplary manner as the Holy Quran was revealed in the month of Ramazan.”

The Ulema of all factions, he said, agree that the month of Ramazan starts and ends with the sighting of moon, but, in case the clouds prevent the naked eye from seeing the moon Muslims should fast all 30 days.

Another MMA member, Mohammad Usman Advocate, said since long people in the NWFP have been divided over the celebration of Eid on a particular day. This attitude is certainly not according to the spirit of Islam.

He said: “Unlike previous years the MMA would make sure that Eid was celebrated on the same day, specially in the NWFP.

Abdul Majid Khan, also an MNA blamed the previous governments for the confusion as they were not able to reach a consensus with the Ulema on the issue of celebrating Eid on the same day.

Maulana Gul Rahim said that the government should make a law that those who do not abide by the decision of the central Reut-i-Hilal committee should be punished, but on the other hand the committee should also adopt a moderate approach and if the moon was sighted in the NWFP, they should take the Shahadat.