Bajaur, North Waziristan declare start of Ramadan ahead of official announcement

PESHAWAR: Local clerics and committees in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announced that the first day of Ramadan will be observed from tomorrow (on Wednesday), a day before the country’s official moon-sighting body is due to meet.

Announcements were made in Bajaur district and North Waziristan, where local committees said the Ramadan crescent had been sighted.

A local TV channel, citing local sources, reported that a committee in North Waziristan declared the moon sighted based on testimonies from five witnesses, with announcements subsequently made in mosques.

The development comes despite the fact that Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which officially confirms the start of the Islamic month in the country, is scheduled to convene in Peshawar on Wednesday afternoon to review testimonies from across the country.

While the committee’s decision is binding nationwide, some areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had in previous years announced the start of Ramadan in line with Saudi Arabia, citing local moon sightings.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s decision is expected later on Wednesday following the review of evidence from regional zonal committees and meteorological officials.