ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon-sighting committee, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) will meet today, Tuesday, for the sighting of the crescent for the Islamic month of Muharram, the state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Muharram marks the beginning of the new year in the Islamic lunar calendar during which Shia Muslims across Pakistan hold gatherings and organize processions to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Shia Muslims across the country mourn Imam Hussain’s martyrdom, which took place on the 10th of Muharram, which is also known as the ‘Day of Ashura’ during which large rallies and processions are held.
In Pakistan, the chairman of the central RHC announces the decision about the sighting of the crescent on the basis of testimonies received from different corners of the country.
“The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meets in Quetta on Tuesday evening for sighting the Crescent of Muharram-ul-Haram 1445 Hijri,” Radio Pakistan said in a report. “Chairman of the Committee Moulana Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting.”
The state-run website said meetings of the RHC’s zonal and district committees would also be held at their respective headquarters.
Every year, Pakistan beefs up security for Muharram processions and blocks phone and Internet services on Muharram 8, 9, and 10 as part of stringent security measures to prevent sectarian violence. These measures are taken in several cities across Pakistan including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Rawalpindi and others.
Since 2020, the government has advised religious leaders to ensure strict coronavirus precautions are followed during Muharram processions. Pakistan’s pandemic task force, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) asked Muslims to follow officially prescribed health precautions during Muharram congregations which included wearing face masks and maintaining a distance of six feet from one another.
Coronavirus cases and deaths from the pandemic, however, have drastically gone down in the country since Pakistan started administering vaccine doses to the masses in 2021.
