Govt bans forced collection of hides
People interact with traders to buy sacrificial animals at the cattle market set up along Super Highway. Photo: PPI/FILE
The Sindh Home Department has issued a code of conduct for collection of hides of sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
Philanthropist organisations collect hides for sale to traders so as to generate funds for their welfare activities. However, in the past there have been incidents of violence over snatching hides and forcing people to donate hides to welfare organisation of a particular political or religious party.
To prevent any untoward incident, the home department said that collection of hides without permission from the commissioners or deputy commissioners was not allowed. It was to be in ensured that policy guidelines and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) SOPs are strictly followed while granting such permissions.
The directive issued by the home department said that permissions granted for collection of hide on the Eidul Azha 2021 and 2022 shall be valid for 2023. Commissioners or deputy commissioners shall ensure that only registered charities, madrassas and philanthropic organisations were permitted to collect hides and no banned or proscribed organisation would be allowed s to collect hides under garb of some other name.
Setting up of camps for collection of hides and use of banners for such purposes was banned. Use of flags and loudspeakers on vehicles and buildings for making announcements regarding collection of hides is prohibited. Collection of hides by force is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
The home department said that organisations permitted to collect and transport the collected hides shall carry the permission and valid CNIC during such activities.
Those violating any condition shall have the hides confiscated which shall be donated and disposed of by commissioners or deputy commissioners and given to reputed charitable organisations only. It said that those applying afresh or carrying earlier permissions shall have to inform deputy commissioners in writing about their plan for collection and give undertaking duly signed by head of that organisation within such area that they shall abide by all the terms and conditions of the code of conduct.
Law enforcement agencies under order from district administration may conduct checking on spot for ensuring compliance of the code of conduct for collecting hides.
Home department reminded that ban on carrying weapons shall strictly be implemented. It further said that permission to carry licensed weapons will remain suspended during this period and any person violating any of the conditions shall be prosecuted against under the relevant provision of law.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2023.