ISLAMABAD, APR 9: The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee on Tuesday announced that Eidul Fitr would fall on Wednesday (April 10) as the Shawwal moon was sighted.

The announcement came after a meeting of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee at the Federal Secreta­riat’s Kohsar Block in Islamabad, while meetings of zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal committees were held at their respective headquarters concurrently.

The meeting was chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, and attended by the members of the Ruet-i-Hilal Commit­tee, as well as officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Suparco, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Maulana Azad said testimonies of moon sightings were received from majority of the country and hence Eid would be celebrated tomorrow.

Azad said the moon was sighted in Karachi, Dir, Faisalabad, Skardu and other areas. He congratulated the nation on the occasion and said a “message of unity” was being sent to the Islamic world due to Eid falling on the same day.

Maulana Azad said all sections of society would need to move forward together for the sake of the country and paid tribute to the sacrifices of the armed forces for peace in the country.

Multiple countries across the world will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Wednesday (tomorrow) after the crescent was not sighted on Monday. Pakistan will also celebrate Eid with the rest of the world. However, the moon was not sighted in India and Bangladesh, which will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Australia are some of the countries which will be celebrating Eid tomorrow.

The Met department has said that according to astronomical parameters, there is a “chance” of spotting the moon today. It said the weather was expected to be partly cloudy or fair in most of the country.

A day earlier, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee had also requ­es­ted citizens to share any information regarding sightings of the moon with the committees in their respective areas.

Talking to Dawn, Maulana Azad had said that extensive meetings and discussions were held with clerics and religious groups across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

All groups who had apprehensions with the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in the past were taken on board and it is unlikely that any cleric would form their private moon sighting committee, he had said.

In the past, different parts of the country have observed Eid on different dates owing to differences in moon-sighting evidence and non-adherence to the Central Ruet-i-Hilal committee’s diktat.

Most notably, Peshawar’s Mufti Shahabudin Popalzai would often announce Eid in KP a day ahead of the rest of the country. In 2022, the country saw Eid being celebrated on three different dates in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa and the rest of the country.

A similar situation occurred in 2012, when the residents of the then-tribal areas celebrated Eid on August 18, KP announced Eid on Aug 19 and the rest of the country celebrated on Aug 20.

RAWALPINDI, APR 9 /DNA/ – Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in South Waziristan District.

During conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange, two terrorists were successfully neutralised and sent to hell.

Weapons along with a large quantity of explosives were also recovered from killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.

Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country.

A meeting of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee is currently under way in Islamabad to spot the Shawwal moon and ascertain whether Eidul Fitr — which marks the end of Ramazan — will fall on Wednesday or Thursday.

The meeting of the central moon-sighting body is being held at the roof of the Federal Secreta­riat’s Kohsar Block in Islamabad, while meetings of zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal committees are being held at their respective headquarters concurrently.

The meeting is being chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, and attended by the members of the Ruet-i-Hilal Commit­tee, as well as officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Suparco, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Multiple countries across the world will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Wednesday (tomorrow) after the crescent was not sighted on Monday. Pakistan will also celebrate Eid with the rest of the world if the committee manages to spot the new moon today.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Australia are some of the countries which will be celebrating Eid tomorrow.

The Met department has said that according to astronomical parameters, there is a “chance” of spotting the moon today. It said the weather was expected to be partly cloudy or fair in most of the country.

A day earlier, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee had also requ­es­ted citizens to share any information regarding sightings of the moon with the committees in their respective areas.

Talking to Dawn, Maulana Azad had said that extensive meetings and discussions were held with clerics and religious groups across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

All groups who had apprehensions with the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in the past were taken on board and it is unlikely that any cleric would form their private moon sighting committee, he had said.

In the past, different parts of the country have observed Eid on different dates owing to differences in moon-sighting evidence and non-adherence to the Central Ruet-i-Hilal committee’s diktat.

Most notably, Peshawar’s Mufti Shahabudin Popalzai would often announce Eid in KP a day ahead of the rest of the country. In 2022, the country saw Eid being celebrated on three different dates in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa and the rest of the country.

A similar situation occurred in 2012, when the residents of the then-tribal areas celebrated Eid on August 18, KP announced Eid on Aug 19 and the rest of the country celebrated on Aug 20.

President Zardari felicitates nation, Muslim Ummah on Eidul Fitr

ISLAMABAD, APR 9 (APP/DNA): President Asif Ali Zardari felicitated the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr and urged them to show compassion and generosity and share their happiness with the poor and needy.

In a message, he said, “On this auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr I felicitate and express my sincere wishes to the Pakistani nation and Muslim Ummah.”

“I pray to Allah Almighty to bring immense blessings, happiness, peace and security to everyone on this blessed day.”

“After all the fasting, prayers and charity in the sacred month of Ramazan, we should be thankful to Allah Almighty for bestowing all the blessings and happiness on us.”

“During Ramazan we submitted to will of Allah and followed the principles of compassion and generosity,” he said adding, “Eidul Fitr is the day to share our happiness with others and show generosity to the deprived sections of society.”

“On this auspicious day we should help the needy, poor, orphans and destitute and share happiness of Eid with them,” he continued.

The President said, “this auspicious occasion of Eid sends us the message that as a nation we are determined to overcome challenges, extend a helping hand to the needy and ready to work for a bright and prosperous future for everybody.”

“In our everyday lives we should make an effort to become a united and strong nation by showing brotherhood and tolerance and ensuring social and economic justice and mutual unity and solidarity,” he said, adding, “On behalf of the Pakistan nation, I want to give the message to the oppressed Muslims of Gaza and Palestine that the whole Pakistani nation express solidarity with you.”

He said, “We impress upon the international community to ensure immediate peace in Gaza and provision of assistance to the Palestinians. The oppression, barbarity and genocide by Israel is the gravest violation of human rights.”

The President said, “On this occasion of happiness, we should also not forget the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

He assured that the whole Pakistani nation stood with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

Pakistan would continue moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people, he added.

The President said, “On the occasion of this blessed day, I pray for the welfare and prosperity of every Pakistani and the whole Muslim Ummah. May Allah Almighty shower His blessings on our nation and keep us on the path of righteousness and bless us with unity, peace and prosperity. Ameen!”

ISLAMABAD, APR 9: /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today held a telephone call with President of Republic of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to convey greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul Fitr.

Both leaders exchanged Eid greetings and sincere wishes for peace, prosperity and unity for the people of Pakistan and Turkiye.

Underscoring deeply-rooted and historical relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all sectors of mutual interest.

The two leaders reaffirmed that they will continue to firmly and resolutely support each other on their core national interests. They also called for peace in Palestine.

The Prime Minister reiterated his invitation to President Erdogan to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. The visit would provide the opportunity to convene the 7th session of High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) scheduled to be held in the near future.

RAWALPINDI, APR 09 (DNA) —Rawalpindi District Police have finalized a foolproof security plan for Eid-ul-Fitr while over 2500 cops would be on duty outside 659 mosques, 76 imambargahs, and 77 open places to provide security to the worshippers, said a police spokesman.

He informed that 32 special pickets had been set up across the city, with over 450 officers on duty during Chand Raat to bolster the security measures. To tackle the issue of one-wheeling, over 300 officers from Rawalpindi district police and Traffic Police would also be on duty.

Moreover, a contingent of 500 Traffic Police Officers would be managing the city’s traffic flow to prevent congestion and ensure smooth movement. The security plan extends beyond prayer spaces, with 250 officers stationed at public places, parks, and approximately 300 at important cemeteries.

City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Mehmood Hamdani directed that policemen deployed on security duty should have metal detectors with them to search the participants. Walk-through gates would be installed in important places where the events of Eid congregations to be held, he added.

He said that special directives have been passed on to police officials to ensure patrolling in their respective areas.  The CPO warned that negligence on the part of officials concerned would not be tolerated at any cost and strict departmental action would be taken against them.

He urged the public to cooperate with the police in curbing the elements and immediately inform the authorities after observing any suspicious movement in any area of the city.

The CPO said that the safety of life and property of the people is a priority of the police for which all resources are being utilized. Foolproof security would be ensured by using all possible resources, he added. — DNA

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf dubbed the past two years after the ouster of an elected public mandated Imran Khan-led government through regime change conspiracy as the darkest and most catastrophic years in the history of Pakistan, as the cabal of crooks imposed on the nation through intrigue plunged the country into the worst political and economic instability, where violation of constitutional and law reigned supreme.

PTI Spokesperson, in a strongly-worked reaction over the completion of two years of the regime change conspiracy against the elected democratic government and destruction of the state system, said that a conspiracy was hatched a well-performing democratic government under an external dictations and vested interests to put the country an endless chain of destruction the country, ushering a new era of lawlessness, violation of the constitution, law and democratic values in Pakistan.

He stated that the independence of the judiciary was destroyed at all levels and it was made as the main facilitator in murdering the justice during these two years, adding that judges who insisted on the supremacy of the constitution and law were subjected of revenge and the judiciary was virtually rendered ineffective through open accusations, insults and division.

PTI Spokesperson recalled that despite formal warnings by the Prime Minister Imran Khan and the then Finance Minister, the economy, which was growing at the rate of 6 percent per year, was brought below zero due to the ensuing political instability.

He stated that during these two years, the people right to vote and the public mandate were trampled on and openly insulted, besides imposing worst censorship and ban on political activities and freedom of press, as the constitution was virtually made irrelevant and all the resources and institutions of the state were left at the mercy of the elements who disliked the constitution instead of the law.

PTI Spokesperson lamented that the spirit of democracy had been destroyed, the people’s right to representation and election were taken away through a historic shameful political engineering with reprehensible facilitation of the most dishonest Election Commission.

He blasted that the planners who attempted to assassinate the country’s most trusted and beloved political leader and former prime minister in broad daylight and used court to minus him from politics were enjoyed full state protection and patronage.

PTI Spokesperson pointed out that after failure to get the desired goals through nefarious regime change conspiracy, an infamous false flag operation in the name of May 9 was carried out to turn Pakistan into a banana republic and the entire state power and resources were ruthlessly used to dismantle the most formidable political.

He said that the jails were filled with innocent political workers and leaders and attempts were made to seize power and politics unlawfully through an unending brutal series of custodial torture, kidnapping for statements and forced divorces.

PTI Spokesperson recalled that the thieves and thugs first took advantage of the regime change conspiracy and later from the planners of May 9 to forgive the theft of whooping Rs. 1100 billion, making NAB a state weapon of political revenge and political engineering.

He said that the people were crushed under the burden of the worst inflation, besides destroying all sectors including industry, agriculture and trade, rendering millions of people jobless, pushing huge number of population below the poverty line.

PTI Spokesperson said that the crooks deviated the country from the path of self-sufficiency and self-reliance and placed at the feet of the IMF due to the imposed rulers incompetence and inaptness.

He went on to say that the truth about all the important incidents such as the cipher, the assassination attack on Imran Khan, the illegal secret recordings, the martyrdom of Arshad Sharif and the IHC judges’ startling letter regarding spy agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs were part of the larger scheme to protect and culprits in these heinous acts from punishment.

PTI Spokesperson said that these self-centered and corrupt clique isolated Pakistan globally, adding that they compromised on the principled national policy on Kashmir and Palestine and secret efforts were made to recognize Israel and restore relations with the Modi government.

He noted that borders were destabilized that encouraged enemies of the country and terrorists instead of taking any effective measures to rein in the upsurge in terrorist attacks, because police, administration and agencies were engaged in rounding up political workers and taking away their fundamental and constitutional rights.

PTI Spokesman said that the public mandate was stolen in the daylight on February 8 and the elected majority was turned into a minority through mega polls fraud to impose the defeated elements on the nation through tampered form 47.

He went on to say that a criminal attempt was made to further weaken the federal government by electing the touts of their choice from the incomplete houses, adding that despite immense cruelty and endless sacrifices, neither the credible and trusted leader of the nation was tired nor the 24 crore Pakistanis standing behind him were ready to accept the seizure of powers fraudulently.

PTI Spokesperson made it clear that the people would soon launch a historic movement to block the ways of the outsiders who forcibly seized power in future and to make them abide by the constitution, besides reclaiming the public mandate to give the government to the truly public elected political party.

Think tank raises alarm against pushing the government to deviate from WHO guidelines

ISLAMABAD, APR 9: /DNA/ – Capital Calling, an Islamabad-based think tank, has raised alarm against the surge in the campaign by multinational cigarette companies to resist the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies regarding budgetary and other checks on their business.

The think tank has stated that International Monitory Fund (IMF) has duly recommended to the government that there should be uniformed tax on all cigarettes being manufactured in Pakistan, regardless of their local or foreign brands.

Dr Hassan Shehzad, from IIUI, said that in reality, cigarette prices are lower in Pakistan compared to other regional countries. He said that there is a direct link between reduction in smoking and increase in cigarette prices.

He said it is unfortunate that representatives of cigarette companies dominate public debate, expressing the need for the government to contain this practice as per the WHO protocols that require of the governments to be vigilant about promotion of cigarette business.

He also pressed on the anti-smoking groups to carry out genuine research as the data they have been presenting to the policymakers is old, which needs to be reexplored. Similarly, awareness about tobacco is almost non-existent on digital media which is an anachronism in this modern age.

Dr Shehzad said that it are these weaknesses that multinational companies conveniently capitalize on to push forward their agenda. He said it has been observed that these companies are competing with one another to increase smoking in the society but they come on the same page to influence the government into facilitation of their business, which by and large is a health hazard.

Dr Hassan Shehzad is the ace researcher on anti smoking. The only research IMF has referred to in its recommendations for tax reforms in the country.