unique pakistan

posted in news


NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has apprised Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of the situation that led to the celebration of Eidul Fitr in parts of the NWFP on Sunday, The News learnt here. The chief minister explained to the prime minister that the laid down procedure was adopted for moon-sighting and then making the announcement to mark the biggest religious festival, a day earlier before it was observed in several areas of the NWFP and the rest of Pakistan, a source close to Prime Minister Gilani told this correspondent. He was not aware what exactly transpired between the two. However, he maintained that Chief Minister Hoti had talked to the prime minister on telephone. “Yes, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti telephoned the prime minister to explain the celebration of Eid on Sunday. He told the prime minister that if his government had not reacted to the zonal committee’s report, the provincial government would have faced a very embarrassing situation,” confirmed Awami National Party’s spokesman Arbab Muhammad Tahir, when contacted on phone. Acting president of ANP Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, who was also approached on telephone for comment, urged the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman to step down, as he had become controversial after “transgressing his mandate”. Such a situation had never arisen in the past involving the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, he noted and added on one occasion Eidul Fitr was celebrated in Charsadda, whereas people in Peshawar had observed fast on that day. Charsadda is the hometown of Wali Khan family. “The extremely controversial Chairman Muneebur Rehman must go now. He did not do what he was mandated to do and did what he was not supposed to,” the ANP leader contended. He was of the view that the only way out of the present unfortunate situation was the immediate bowing out of Mufti Muneebur Rehman. To another question, he said according to his information, ANP President Asfandyar Wali was yet to be formally informed about the scenario. The ANP chief is in the US as a part of President Asif Ali Zardari’s delegation. He said that in case the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman did not tender his resignation, the matter would be taken up by ANP leadership with either President Asif Ali Zardari or Prime Minister Gilani on Asfandyar Wali’s return. Haji Adeel, criticising the role of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee ever since it was established during late military ruler Ayub Khan’s era, alleged that it had failed to unite the nation to observe the religious festival on a single day.