National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The Government is working on a plan
to reconstitute Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to legalise its
functioning and to resolve conflicts of crescent sighting.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony
has been in the process of re-nomination of Central Ruet-e-Hilal
committee members, said official sources on Saturday.
They said incumbent Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has no formal
legal cover and is working only on the basis of a resolution,
adopted by the National Assembly in January 1974. Thus it was
set up through any legislation, they added.
Ruet-e-Hilal Committee members are given Grade 20 emoluments
in respect of travelling and daily allowances on the day of
meeting.
Besides, Rs 1,000 are paid as conveyance and mobile charges,
said the sources.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony
nominates the members of the Ruet Committee, while the chairman of
the committee holds the office for three years.
Incumbent Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneebur
Rahman has been holding the coveted office of chairman since
September 13, 2001.
It merits mentioning that re-structuring or re-nomination
of the committee had earlier been echoed in the Senate and also
in Senate Standing Committee where some members termed the
committee ‘controversial’ and demanded its restructuring.
Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith
Harmony in its meeting held last week had also sought a detailed
report about legal and constitutional status of Ruet-e-Hilal
Committee, perks and privileges being paid to its members, and
criteria of the selection of its members and chairman by next
meeting of the committee.