Mufti Muneeb removed as Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has removed Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman as the chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, the Khateeb of Lahore’s famous Badshahi Mosque, has taken over for Mufti Muneeb as the Chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee according to the notification.

The development comes as part of the reshuffle in the 19-member committee which now includes representatives of the Suparco, Science and Technology Ministry and the Met Office.

It is pertinent to mention that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has had the final word regarding the announcement of the start and end of Islamic months. However, it has resulted in controversy over announcement of moon sighting over the years.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committed under the chairmanship of Mufti Muneeb has been at odds with the Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry over the issue of moon sighting for major Islamic festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.

However, Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry had earlier announced that his ministry would make an Islamic Calendar with such dates pre-decided.

This is the copy of the notification: