The All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association (AJKSA) on Tuesday announced that the first day of Muharram-ul-Haram, 1448 AH, will be observed on Wednesday, June 17, following confirmation of the crescent moon through authenticated reports received from different parts of the country. In a statement issued by its Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the association said that due to overcast and cloudy weather conditions, the crescent moon could not be sighted from the Meteorological Centre at Rambagh in Srinagar. However, the committee said reliable and authenticated evidence of moon sighting was received from other regions of India, leading to confirmation of the commencement of the new Islamic month.