Petition Filed in Islamabad High Court Seeking Early Eid Moon Announcement
Islamabad: A citizen has approached the Islamabad High Court seeking directives for an early announcement of the Eid moon sighting.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar remarked that the moon announcement can only be made after it is actually sighted. He explained that testimonies are collected from all four provinces before a meeting is held and a final decision is announced, which naturally takes time.
The petitioner, Abdullah Shafiq, appeared in person and requested the court to direct the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to make timely announcements. He argued that delays create confusion, with people offering Tarawih prayers and markets witnessing sudden late-night rushes after announcements.
He further urged the court to instruct authorities to take measures to maintain law and order and to restrict markets other than Eid shopping outlets to avoid overcrowding.
The court has sought a report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and adjourned the hearing without announcing the next date.
