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Pakistan's federal and Sindh governments have announced public holidays on June 25 (Thursday) and June 26 (Friday) to mark Ashura, the 9th and 10th days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The announcement, made on Monday, aligns with the earlier declaration by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that the Muharram moon was not sighted, setting the first of Muharram for Wednesday, June 17, and Ashura for June 26.

Coverage Comparison

According to Dawn, the federal government's notification, dated June 22, was issued by the Cabinet Secretariat and stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had declared Muharram 9 and 10, falling on June 25-26, as public holidays. Concurrently, the Sindh government issued its own notification through the Sindh Information Department on social media platform X. The Sindh notification, issued by the chief secretary, declared June 25 and 26 as public holidays throughout the province, covering offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils under the provincial government's administrative control, except essential services.

Dawn also reported that the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in a notification, announced that the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, in its meeting held in Lahore, had decided that the Muharram 1448 AH moon had not been sighted. Consequently, the 1st of Muharram would commence from Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and Ashura would be observed on June 26.

Key Claims

  • The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that the Muharram 1448 AH moon was not sighted, making the first of Muharram fall on Wednesday, June 17, and Ashura on June 26, as reported by Dawn.
  • The federal government declared public holidays for Muharram 9 and 10 (June 25-26), according to a notification from the Cabinet Secretariat, as reported by Dawn.
  • The Sindh government also declared June 25 and 26 as public holidays, with the notification stating that all offices except essential services would remain closed, as reported by Dawn.
  • The notification clarified that offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils under the Sindh government's control would be closed, except essential services, as reported by Dawn.
  • Muharram is a month of mourning, particularly observed by Shia Muslims worldwide, commemorating the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Husain (RA) and other family members were martyred or subjected to humiliation, as described by Dawn.
  • Religious processions are held across the country during this period, as reported by Dawn.

Perspectives

Since the article is based solely on Dawn's reporting, which presents the official announcements without differing viewpoints from other parties, no additional perspectives section is included.