Save your hide: Home ministry issues code of conduct for collection

Anyone harassing people to hand over sacrificial animals’ skins to be punished

PESHAWAR:

The home ministry issued a strict code of conduct for the collection of sacrificial animals’ hides during Eidul Azha.

A notification issued by the home and tribal affairs department stated the police and divisional commissioners will ensure that charity organisations collecting hides had permission from the relevant district administration.

“Those involved in collection will have to declare they do not belong to a banned outfit,” read the statement. It added anyone caught harassing people to hand over hides would be punished under the relevant section of the Anti-Terrorist Act 1997. The use of loudspeakers to request for hides has also been banned.

The statement read that police and law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest individuals violating these regulations, adding Section 144 will be imposed to avoid clashes over the collection of animal hides.

Besides issuing a code of conduct, the home department also beefed up security for Eid congregations.

According to officials, instructions were issued to the police and divisional commissioners to make foolproof security arrangements to avert act of terrorism or militancy.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal affairs Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune a number of organisations collect hides, but the code of conduct was imposed to ensure militant organisations cannot use the money generated through the sale of these skins to fund terror activities.

Shah said CCTV cameras have been installed at various places and law enforcement agencies have been directed to closely monitor the situation at bus stands, markets, cattle markets, graveyards and other places where people gather.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2014.