So what? I can produce 150 witnesses who will deny sighting the moon.

2. Some time back I read an interesting anecdote narrated by an ex-DG of Radio Pakistan (I have forgotten his name now). Long time back he was an ex-officio member of the Moon sighting committee. On one ocassion when Mullas were desperately trying to locate Moon, he suggested to their leader to make use of a telescope which was available at the site. The head of the committee looking at him over his glasses retorted: Did Prophet Muhammad use telescope to sight the moon?? The DG retorted back: Sir, as far as I know the Prophet didn’t wear glasses either. BTW Mullas do make use of telescope these days for sighting moon.

3. These days motion and location of heavenly bodies can be calculated and predicted precisely well in advance. Wonder why don’t our so called Ullama make use of this knowledge to our advantage?? After all we now living in 21st century.

4. There are two very simple solutions to this moon sighting problem.

a. Celebrate Eid and other religious events as per moon sighting at Mecca like Afghans do.

b. Or celebrate Eid and other religious events as per the scientifically calculated position of the moon at a place in the country whose local time is accepted as the standard time of Pakistan which I think is somewhere near Multan.

5. Remember in early years of Islam these options were not available to the Muslims of that era. That’s why they relied on actual sighting of the moon whereever they happen to be living.