KARACHI, Pakistan: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has announced that the moon of Muharram-ul-Harram was sighted in the country, and the Yaum-e-Ashura will be observed on November 4.
The announcement was made by the Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman while addressing a news conference in Karachi on Saturday evening.
The meeting was attended by Ulema belonging to all schools of thought.
Earlier, a meeting of Central Ruet-e Hilal Committee held under its Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman at Karachi for sighting Muharram-ul-Harram moon.
The Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees also met at their respective headquarters for the sighting of the moon.
Security measures for Muharram
Meanwhile, special security measures are being taken across the country in order to prevent any untoward situation during the holy month.
Earlier in the day, the Sindh police requested the deployment of army personnel across the province for maintenance of law and order during Muharram.
In a letter written to Sindh’s interior ministry, the Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Usman Ghani Siddiqui requested the deployment of 900 army troops in South Zone, four platoons in East Zone, three platoons in Red Zone, one platoon and 500 army personnel in Hyderabad, 400 personnel in Larkana and five platoons in Sukkur.
The Punjab government also decided to deploy 14 companies of the army — each consisting of 150 personnel — in Rawalpindi to maintain peace during Muharram.
Likewise, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also taken strict security measures ahead of Muharram as 12 out of 25 districts of the province have been declared sensitive, whereas four among these have been declared highly sensitive.
The Inspector General KPK Nasir Durrani told media that law enforcement agencies are ready to take on any challenge. He said that army troops will also be on high alert, adding that they are also expecting extra Frontier Constabulary platoons to arrive from Islamabad for provision of security during Muharram.