LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) acting chief Liaqat Baloch has said Eid celebrations in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on “sectarian grounds” in the technological era has made the country an international laughing stock He was referring to an announcement made by clerics associated with Qasim Ali Khan Mosque that they had accepted testimony of several witnesses who claimed to have sighted the moon, which led to mark the festival in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. He called upon the federal and the provincial governments to resolve the issue of moon sighting on permanent basis with the consultation of the religious scholars. He said that split over Eid celebrations had brought shame to the country. He, however, said that that while the poor and pious people would be duly rewarded on the day of resurrection for their noble deeds during the sacred month, the ruling junta would be answerable for its “criminal conduct”. The split between technologists and traditionalists – when, exactly, do you end a month long fast? – is amicable but complicates weekend plans for prayers, feasts, gifts, carnival rides, a petting zoo and even a mechanical bull. Referring to the Panama probe, he said that the corruption mafia had looted the country’s resources ruthlessly but now it was the time to hold them accountable. He said that avenues for wiping out ideological and electoral corruption would also be opened in the future. Published in Daily Times, June 26th, 2017.