‘Goodwill’ gesture: ANP backs out from hide collection

KARACHI: In view of the volatile security situation of Karachi, the Awami National Party (ANP) will not collect sacrificial animal hides this year. In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s Sindh president Senator Shahi Syed announced that the ANP will take action against anyone found collecting animal hides in party’s name. “We have always cooperated [with authorities] to maintain peace in Karachi and will continue to do so,” he stated. Snatching animal hides has become a routine matter on every Eidul Azha, Shahi Syed said. Karachi is the only city where people are not able to perform Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi happily, he added. Criminals snatch animal hides in a broad daylight but they are never stopped. It happens every year but nobody is punished.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2012.