Be warned: Use of force to collect animal hides can land you in jail says commissioner
Shoaib Siddiqui announces code of conduct for the three days of Eidul Azha.
KARACHI:
With a number of hoardings and billboards asking citizens to donate the hides of their sacrificial animals already broadcast on several main roads, the Karachi commissioner has stepped in to evolve a code of conduct to avert any law and order situation in the race to collect hides.
The decision was taken bearing in mind the complaints each year regarding the coercion and force being used by political and religious organisations over the collection of hides of sacrificial animals.
Those keen to collect the hides will now have to obtain a police verification certificate, failure of which would be tantamount to violation of the code of conduct and liable to prosecution. The commissioner, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, made the announcement at a press conference at his office on Saturday.
"Use of loud speakers, advance booking of hides, threatening citizens over refusal to give hides and carrying weapons is strictly prohibited," he warned. Siddiqui added that the district administrations had pointed out a number of high-risk areas where they had suggested for the deployment of larger contingents of law enforcers.
"The outskirts of the city, Surjani Town, Khuda ki Basti, Lyari, Moosa lane and Lea Market are some of the areas that have been identified as particularly high-risk," he said. "This Eid, no one will be allowed to use coercion in the collection of hides," warned Siddiqui.
He added that the code of conduct was set in accordance with last year's experience in which all trusts had nominated a focal person and conflicts were resolved through consensus.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the commissioner said that anyone found guilty of violating the code of conduct will be prosecuted in accordance with the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
"We will register the cases for the violation of the loudspeaker act, according to which the accused may be jailed for up to two years," he said.
In response to a question regarding offences that are not covered by the PPC, such as the advance booking of hides, Siddiqui said that cases of threats or coercion will be dealt under the PPC Section 506 and offenders may be jailed for two years. "Section 144 will be imposed during the three days of Eidul Azha," he said
Removal of offal and waste
The commissioner said that all district administrations, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the cantonment boards had been directed to immediately remove offal from the streets and spray the areas where animals had been sacrificed.
"We will not tolerate any irresponsible behaviour and have directed the KMC to immediately allocate funds for the occasion," he said.
Illegal markets
The commissioner also expressed dissatisfaction over the establishment of illegal cattle markets around the city and requested the media and citizens to point out areas where these markets had been set up. "With the help of the media, we are removing these cattle markets" he said.
He added that the threat posed by the Congo virus was very much alive as two people had recently fallen prey to the deadly disease. He advised citizens not to purchase animals from these markets.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2014.
With a number of hoardings and billboards asking citizens to donate the hides of their sacrificial animals already broadcast on several main roads, the Karachi commissioner has stepped in to evolve a code of conduct to avert any law and order situation in the race to collect hides.
The decision was taken bearing in mind the complaints each year regarding the coercion and force being used by political and religious organisations over the collection of hides of sacrificial animals.
Those keen to collect the hides will now have to obtain a police verification certificate, failure of which would be tantamount to violation of the code of conduct and liable to prosecution. The commissioner, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, made the announcement at a press conference at his office on Saturday.
"Use of loud speakers, advance booking of hides, threatening citizens over refusal to give hides and carrying weapons is strictly prohibited," he warned. Siddiqui added that the district administrations had pointed out a number of high-risk areas where they had suggested for the deployment of larger contingents of law enforcers.
"The outskirts of the city, Surjani Town, Khuda ki Basti, Lyari, Moosa lane and Lea Market are some of the areas that have been identified as particularly high-risk," he said. "This Eid, no one will be allowed to use coercion in the collection of hides," warned Siddiqui.
He added that the code of conduct was set in accordance with last year's experience in which all trusts had nominated a focal person and conflicts were resolved through consensus.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the commissioner said that anyone found guilty of violating the code of conduct will be prosecuted in accordance with the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
"We will register the cases for the violation of the loudspeaker act, according to which the accused may be jailed for up to two years," he said.
In response to a question regarding offences that are not covered by the PPC, such as the advance booking of hides, Siddiqui said that cases of threats or coercion will be dealt under the PPC Section 506 and offenders may be jailed for two years. "Section 144 will be imposed during the three days of Eidul Azha," he said
Removal of offal and waste
The commissioner said that all district administrations, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the cantonment boards had been directed to immediately remove offal from the streets and spray the areas where animals had been sacrificed.
"We will not tolerate any irresponsible behaviour and have directed the KMC to immediately allocate funds for the occasion," he said.
Illegal markets
The commissioner also expressed dissatisfaction over the establishment of illegal cattle markets around the city and requested the media and citizens to point out areas where these markets had been set up. "With the help of the media, we are removing these cattle markets" he said.
He added that the threat posed by the Congo virus was very much alive as two people had recently fallen prey to the deadly disease. He advised citizens not to purchase animals from these markets.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2014.