80 arrested for illegal hide collection, burning heads and trotters

Suspects released on Monday against Rs30,000 bail bonds each.

LAHORE:

Special judicial magistrates released over 80 men on bails on Monday. The men had been arrested for allegedly burning animals’ heads and trotters at roadsides and purchasing hides in violation of Section 144 imposed by the city district government to make the city pollution-free on Eidul Azha.

The suspects were produced before Model Town, District and Cantt courts where they were released against bail bonds of Rs30,000 each.

Muhammad Asif, a suspect, told The Express Tribune that he had wrongly been implicated by the police. He said he had been on his way home when he had seen a crowd that had gathered around a man who was collecting hides. He said police had arrested him for “selling hides”.

Those who were bailed included Mohammad Shafique, Nauman Ali, Abid Ali, Mohammad Javed, Asad Khan, Babar Ali, Abdur Rahman, Yousaf, Umar, Ramazan, Latif, Asif, Shabbir Masih and Babar Masih.

Talking to The Express Tribune, District Coordination Officer’s Personal Staff Officer Tariq Zaman said the city district government had imposed Section 144 to make the city pollution-free. He said they only permitted four NGOs   Sahara Trust, Shaukat Khanam, AQ Trust and Edhi Welfare Foundation   to collect the hides of sacrificial animals. He said people had called up the city government and complained about animal heads and trotters being burnt in streets. He said Section 144 would remain imposed till midnight on Monday, the last day of Eid.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.