The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Monday announced the Muharram moon has not been sighted in the country, hence the first of Muharram will fall on June 17 (Wednesday) and Ashura—Muharram 10—on June 26 (Friday).
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad announced the decision after a meeting of the moon sighting committee in Lahore.
Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said there were no chances of a moon sighting on June 15, as the interval between the birth of the moon and sunset would be insufficient for crescent visibility. In an advisory issued last week, the Met Office had said weather conditions were expected to remain clear in several parts of the country.
Meanwhile, in a notification, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government announced a public holiday across the province on Muharram 1. The Punjab government, separately, imposed Section 144 across the province from Muharram 1 to 10 to ensure public safety and promote religious harmony. The restrictions ban pillion riding on Muharram 9 and 10, except for senior citizens, women, Rescue 1122 personnel, and law enforcement officials.
Muharram is one of Islam’s four sacred months. Ashura marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), along with his family members, in the battle of Karbala. The month is observed with processions and majalis, with religious scholars addressing huge gatherings across the country.