No space for the sacrificial lamb
Market set up for sale of sacrificial animals in anticipation of Eidul Azha is being treated as a security risk.
ISLAMABAD:
The market set up every year for sale of sacrificial animals in anticipation of Eidul Azha is being treated as a security risk. First Islamabad administration and then Railway Police forced the herders to shift their tents and set up the market elsewhere.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) had originally provided land in sector I-11/2 for the market. Contractor Professor Yasir Irfahat said that vendors had started bringing their cattle from different parts of the country and setting up tent on the provided land.
When police learned of this, they asked the vendors to vacate the area as it was not a ‘secure’ arrangement. Yasir said the vendors were shifted to land adjacent to the Railway Carriage Factory. When they had finished shifting, Railway Police came and told them to shift from this area as well. Yasir also claimed that the Railway Police thrashed their tents and assaulted workers, forcing them to leave. He further alleged that authorities confiscated their cattle.
The CDA is responsible for providing land and basic requirements for the market. Vendors blame differences between CDA and Islamabad administration for the problems they are facing. “We have still not been provided security, sanitation or land,” said Yasir.
Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Director Directorate Municipal Administration in CDA said, “We are not bound to provide land for the cattle before sighting of the moon.”
He said the issues had been resolved and claimed that cattle market would soon be established in the carriage factory.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed said that due to security reasons the administration did not allow the cattle market to be set up.
He refuted claims that police had thrashed tents or assaulted herders.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2010.
The market set up every year for sale of sacrificial animals in anticipation of Eidul Azha is being treated as a security risk. First Islamabad administration and then Railway Police forced the herders to shift their tents and set up the market elsewhere.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) had originally provided land in sector I-11/2 for the market. Contractor Professor Yasir Irfahat said that vendors had started bringing their cattle from different parts of the country and setting up tent on the provided land.
When police learned of this, they asked the vendors to vacate the area as it was not a ‘secure’ arrangement. Yasir said the vendors were shifted to land adjacent to the Railway Carriage Factory. When they had finished shifting, Railway Police came and told them to shift from this area as well. Yasir also claimed that the Railway Police thrashed their tents and assaulted workers, forcing them to leave. He further alleged that authorities confiscated their cattle.
The CDA is responsible for providing land and basic requirements for the market. Vendors blame differences between CDA and Islamabad administration for the problems they are facing. “We have still not been provided security, sanitation or land,” said Yasir.
Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Director Directorate Municipal Administration in CDA said, “We are not bound to provide land for the cattle before sighting of the moon.”
He said the issues had been resolved and claimed that cattle market would soon be established in the carriage factory.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed said that due to security reasons the administration did not allow the cattle market to be set up.
He refuted claims that police had thrashed tents or assaulted herders.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2010.