ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Comm­ittee has been disbanded and the decision to observe or not to observe a Muslim festival will henceforth rest with the people.

This decision was taken by the President’s Council of Ministers held here today [Oct 8] under the Chairmanship of the President Gen A.M. Yahya Khan.

The Government agencies would, however, continue to announce for the collection of information with regard to the sighting of the new moon on a district-wise basis and for the publicity of information thus collected through all information media.

Henceforth, the Deputy Commissioners throug­hout Pakistan would convene, in their respective headquarters, a meeting of influential persons and eminent Ulema on the 29th of the lunar month, preceding the month occasion for which sighting of the new moon is arranged. Detailed information regarding the appearance or non-appearance of the moon within the jurisdiction of the district would be collected, collated and sifted by the meeting. Definite information regarding the sighting or otherwise of the moon in the district will be immediately passed on by telephone, telegram to their Division Commissioners and released simultaneously for publicity to the local information media.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2019