The National Assembly passed the Pakistan Ruet e Hilal Bill 2022 on Wednesday, putting an end to the seasonal debates surrounding the sighting of a moon.
The law seeks to reconstitute the body and impose fines on those who report the moon’s sighting before the announcement is made formally.
The Federal Ruet e Hilal Committee will be constituted as a 15-member federal committee, under the proposed legislation.
Two ulemas from each of the four provinces will be represented, along with one each from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.
Members of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), the Ministry of religious affairs, and the Science and Technology ministries will also be represented on the committee.
This committee will have officers from the 20th grade.
The bill stipulates that the ulema chosen to the committee must have 15 years of experience and a master’s degree in Islamiat.
They must also possess a Shahadatul Almiya degree that has been validated by the HEC.
The bill says that the federal body shall have a three-year tenure and forbids all unofficial committees.
The committee head, who would be chosen by rotation from the provinces and the federation, will be charged with making judgments regarding moon sightings.
Anyone found in breach of the Act will be subject to an Rs500,000 fine.
In addition, people who offer fraudulent proof of a moon sighting face a three-year prison sentence as well as an Rs50,000 fine.
Additionally, a one million rupee fine would be imposed on any TV outlet that reports the sighting of the moon prior to the federal committee’s formal declaration.
The licence for the channel could be revoked in serious instances.
This offense is non-bailable and non-compoundable, meaning it cannot be resolved through settlement or compromise.
