Islamabad High Court disposes of plea in Eid moon sighting case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday disposed of the petition, seeking court order to the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to announce sighting of the moon for Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha immediately after seeing it, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Sarfaraz Dogar heard the petition.

Speaking during the hearing, Abdullah Shafiq, the petitioner, stated that the machine, which was used for the sighting of moon for Eidul Fitr this year, was positioned upside down. “I have saved a video in my cellphone, which clearly proves my point,” he added.

The CJ asked whether the wrong positioning of the machine affected sighting of the moon.

The petitioner replied that actually Eidul Fitr was on Friday. “But the committee announced it was on Saturday.”

Citing a hadith of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said that faithful had been ordered in it to fast as well celebrate Eid after seeing the moon.

The chief justice directed the petitioner to submit details of the hadith in the court.

Later the court disposed of the petition after the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to submit its reply in the case.

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani