THE people of Peshawar were pleasantly surprised when Mufti Popalzai of Qasim Ali Khan mosque fame failed to sight Eidul Fitr moon on (his) 29th Ramazan this year. Thus he and his followers observed Eid with the rest of Pakistan this year. Well kudos to him, but can anyone enlighten me on the following:

1) Who gave the mandate to the committee, headed by Mufti Popalzai to announce the start and end of Ramazan every year? 2) If they have no mandate, then why is the Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar, or any other competent government authority, not taking action against this cleric for violating the state’s writ and misguiding the citizens of the province about the start and end of Ramazan, and in the process committing gross violation of the Ehtrame Ramazan ordinance by celebrating Eid when in fact it is the last day of fasting? And 3) I am 80 years old living in Peshawar. To my recollection, no one in the provincial or federal government has ever taken any action against the Mufti for the violation of the law of the land and his misuse of the Shariah. Why?

Mohammad Asif
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2020