Bilour assails Mufti Munib

The Awami National Party (ANP) in NWFP and Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (CRHC) has entered into open confrontation on the issue of the moon sighting and celebration of Eidul Fitr. ANP, which is also coalition partner in PPP led federal government of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, has announced to celebrate Eidul Fitr on Sunday after a local unofficial Ruet-e-Hilal Committee declared Eid on Sunday.
The decision of the provincial government has attracted criticism both provincial and national level in the country. Majority of the population in the province has observed this festival along with the central government. Even in the provincial metropolis Eid prayers have been reportedly offered 17 places.
The controversy triggered with the announcement of the Eidul Fitr by the Imam of Qasim Ali Khan Mosque and took a new turn on Wednesday when senior ANP leader and Federal Minister for Railways, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in a press conference demanded dissolution of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after accusing chairman of the committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman for dividing the nation on the celebration of the Eidul Fitr.
Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour declared chairman, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, as remnant of the military dictator, Pervez Musharraf and called for his replacement with Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, Imam of Qasim Ali Khan Mosque in Peshawar. He said it was unfortunate that evidences forwarded by Pakthuns regarding sighting of moon were often rejected by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. He said that evidences forwarded by Pakhtuns should be honoured and respected.
He supported the arguments to celebrate Eid and Ramzan with Saudi Arabia. He said he has great regard for Ulema-e-Karam and wants to solve Ruet Hilal issue once and for all. "Celebrating Eid on Sunday was not the decision of NWFP government but it was unanimous decision of Ulema-e-Kiram belonging to every sect and therefore we supported it," he said. He said he did not mean to hurt anybody, adding Eid is not a political, but a religious issue and Ruet's issue should be solved by creating a consensus among all segments of the society.
Bilour said he has no personal differences with Mufti Munibur Rahman, however since he was holding the slot of chairmanship of Central Ruet Hilal Committee, he could not ensure unanimous observance of Ramazan and Eid on one day. He advocated for appointment of new chairman of Central Ruet Hilal committee.
The chairman, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman said that 95 percent population of the country including minister of the provincial government had celebrated their Eidul Fitr after following the decision of the central committee.
He said that both President and Prime Minister of Pakistan are not creating problem, but it is only Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, who is creating problems. He was confident that even President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif would have celebrated their Eidul Fitr with central committee had they been in Pakistan.
Outrightly rejecting the title of the remnant of dictator Pervez Musharraf, he said that he is the remnant of Islam, saying he had always opposed all those steps of Pervez Musharraf, which were repugnant to Islam. He said that the leaders of ANP themselves were the remnant of Pervez Musharraf.
On the other hand, the provincial chapter of PPP has extended support to chairman central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and has asked the provincial government to shun interference in the affairs of the committee. "The stoppage of the interference of provincial government would be automatically resolved the matter," president PPP NWFP Syed Zahir Ali Shah had reportedly told media at Kacha Garhi IDPs Camp.
Syed Zahir Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of health in the ANP-PPP coalition government in NWFP, also asked Haji Bilour to tender apology for establishing the linkage of Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman with 'Qadianis'. The statement of Bilour, he said, had hit the feelings of all Muslims in the country.
Meanwhile, Eidul Fitr prayers were offered at 17 big mosques in Peshawar on Monday after the announcement of the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. A large number of faithful attended the Eid prayers and offered special prayers for the integrity of the country.
The largest Eidul Fitr prayer gathering was held on green lawns of the historical Tehsil Gorgatree Park. PPP provincial president, Syed Zahir Ali Shah also offered the prayers at Tehsil Gorgatree Park and exchanged Eid greetings with the people. The people of the seven districts of Malakand Division, Hazara Division, and some other parts of the province also celebrated Eidul Fitr on Monday.