KHAR: The people of Bajaur Agency would celebrate Eidul Fitr with Saudi Arabia, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

They said that the decision to follow Saudi Arabia in observing Eidul Fitr was taken at a meeting of ulema and religious leaders of various areas of the agency here with Mufti Anwar Shah in the chair. Participants of the meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the central Ruet-i-Hilal committee. They also showed dismay over Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai for his silence over sighting of the Ramazan moon.

The ulema said that they had been admirers of Mufti Popalzai, but he lost their trust when he did not announce start of Ramazan with Saudi Arabia. They said they were not in favour to follow Saudi Arabia on Eid and Ramazan, but ‘poor performance’ of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal committee and absence of any credible regional Ruet-i-Hilal body forced them to celebrate Eidul fitr with Saudi Arabia.

It was decided that a meeting of ulema, religious scholars and elders would be held after Maghrib prayers today (Monday) for sighting the Shawwal moon. The ulmea said that they would celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia if the local committee did not sight the moon.

Though we are making all possible efforts to sight the moon tonight, but if we didn’t, we will definitely celebrate the Eid with Saudi Arabia,” said Mufi Anwar Shah. The participants asked the government to appoint ‘honest and committed’ people to the central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee. They also demanded the federal government to order the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to hold its meeting for sighting the moon on the same day with Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016