Govt decides to restructure Ruet-e-Hilal Committee: sources

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to restructure country’s premium moon sighting body, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), ARY News reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

Sources privy to the development said that the ministry of Religious Affairs has finalised its draft of recommendations for restructuring of the RHC.

The draft has been sent to the ministry of  Law and Justice.

According to the draft, the current chairman and members of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee would be changed and new chairman and the members would be appointed.

Furthermore, fines have also been recommended over announcement in contradiction with the government committee.

Read more:Fawad Chaudhry suggests modern technology to end ‘Ruet-e-Hilal’ disputes

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was set up in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan, and no rules and regulations for the functioning of the committee have been drafted till date.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had  demanded the abolition of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

Chaudhry, while talking to overseas journalists had criticised the clerics once again regarding the moon sighting techniques.