A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking directions for the early announcement of the Eid ul Fitr moon sighting to avoid confusion among the public and manage crowds in markets.

 

The plea was submitted by Islamabad resident Abdullah Shafiq Jan in his personal capacity. In the application, the petitioner requested the court to direct the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to announce the sighting of the Eid moon immediately after it is confirmed.

 

According to the petition, delays in the official announcement often create uncertainty among citizens regarding the start of Eid ul Fitr.

 

The petitioner stated that such delays also affect religious practices, saying that many people offer Taraweeh prayers before the official declaration of the moon sighting.

 

“Delays in announcing the moon sighting often lead people to perform Taraweeh prayers before the official declaration, which creates confusion among the public,” the petition stated.

 

The application further pointed to the impact of late-night announcements on public movement and market activity.

 

It said that when the moon sighting is announced late at night, people rush to markets for last-minute Eid shopping, resulting in overcrowding in commercial areas.

 

The petitioner told the court that the sudden increase in shoppers creates management issues for authorities responsible for maintaining order in public places.

 

He argued that announcing the moon sighting earlier would help authorities regulate crowds and take necessary steps to manage movement in markets.

 

The petition also requested the court to issue directions regarding market operations in order to reduce pressure on commercial centres.

 

The petitioner asked the court to direct the authorities to keep markets closed except for outlets selling Eid-related items so that crowds can be controlled and public safety can be ensured.

 

Through the plea, he urged the court to instruct the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to announce the sighting of the Eid ul Fitr moon as soon as the crescent is sighted.