The National Assembly has successfully passed a bill aimed at regulating the process of moon-sighting for the commencement of Islamic months. This development holds unofficial bodies accountable for potential penal action.
Presented by State Minister for Law and Justice, Shahadat Awan, the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill, 2022 introduced in the absence of the religious affairs minister.
The bill’s objective is to establish a system to govern moon-sighting, ensuring the commencement of Islamic Hijri calendar months and promoting unity among followers of different Islamic schools of thought throughout the country. You can find a copy of the bill on the official website of the National Assembly.
The legislation explicitly prohibits all unofficial bodies and individuals from engaging in moon-sighting activities. It emphasizes that no committee, organization, or entity, except the federal, provincial, and district committees assigned for this purpose, shall operate in any part of Pakistan.
According to the bill, the term of Ruet-e-Hilal committees will be three years. The chairperson of the Central Ruete-Hilal committee will convene its meeting on the 29th day of each month or as directed by the respective division.
The committee may invite experts or co-opt individuals to attend its meetings and provide advice on matters under discussion. However, these invitees or co-opted members will not have voting rights.
The central moon-sighting committee will consist of the chairperson, two clerics from each province, one from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Additionally, technical members from the Meteorological Office, Suparco, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs will also be part of the committee.
Under the newly enacted law, Ruet committees will only accept evidence of moon sighting that aligns with Shariah principles. The evidence of moon sightings must submitted to the central committee through the respective provincial committees.
The bill enforces penalties for violations. Offenders may face fines of up to 500,000 rupees. Furthermore, electronic media outlets that broadcast news about moon sighting prior to the official announcement will be subject to fines of up to 1 million rupees, suspension of their licenses by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), or both.
The legislation also stipulates that individuals who provide false evidence regarding moon sightings will imprisoned for a term of up to three years, fined up to 50,000 rupees, or face both penalties.
