This is apropos the report published by one of leading English dailies of Pakistan on September 9, 2016, that banned outfits cannot collect animal hides. Islamic institutions and networks promoting subscription and assistance pave the way for economic stability and fulfil basic needs of society. Paying zakat, tith, waqaf, saqdah, and fitrah on Eids are the main sources of serving the poor. With Eid-ul-Azha due to be celebrated on September 13, Muslims sacrifice animals in a bid to procure the blessings of their Abrahamic rituals and distribute some much-appreciated meat handouts and hides to the poor. However, owing to the widespread presence of leviathan religious, militant and charitable outfits, this holy aim has been jeopardised given the fact that this thinly veiled business generate an extraordinary cash windfall for them.
There is a systemic nexus between the hides of sacrificial animals and terrorist funding. Militant organisations collect hides on Eid-ul-Azha under various pretexts, including seminaries and welfare of aggrieved and deprived Muslims but the money is spent on blameful activities. Militant outfits, of all shades and denominations, compete for the collection of animal hides across the country. Rabble-rousers and firebrand provocateurs visit various areas to coax like-minded people to donate to their organisation even before Eid. They send small children on this special errand carrying sacks and shoppers inscribed with the so-called jihadist slogans and sectarian underpinnings. Small surprise, in big cities the scenario is aggravated by a hodgepodge of bigger localised mafias, militant wings of almost all parliamentarian parties and pseudo-charitable outfits who either overtly or covertly perpetuate violence and terror.
In Fata and Balochistan’s tribal areas, militants collect hides by resorting to misinterpretation of religion and high-handed tactics and sheer intimidation. This works as a lifeline for their notorious activities. The authorities must take stringent measures to ward off the downward trajectory towards militarisation of the society. Point six of the National Action Plan pertains to choking financing for terrorists and terrorist organisations. Interestingly, the Financial Monetary Unit of the Ministry of Finance, and the Special Investigation Unit and Terrorist Finance Investigation Unit (TFIU) at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) should do utmost to track and investigate financial aspects of terrorist organisations. This is a multi-faceted issue which requires scientific, systematic understanding of the processes of fundraising, transfers and utilisation of funds.
Community leaders must play a frontline role. This opportunity could be utilised by distributing hides among the poor or donating them to welfare trusts of good repute. District administration should give permission to those entities whose credentials are immaculate and based on the welfare of the masses.
Saeed Ullah Khan Wazir
Islamabad
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