Openly challenging the writ of the government, the banned organisations boldly collected hides on the three days of Eidul Adha.
Not only did they set up camps all over the city, workers of banned militants organisations went from door to door and encouraged people to give them the hides by describing their services to humanity. On the other hand, no inspectors or officials were seen stopping the activities of these organisations or taking an action against their flaunting of the government’s laws and orders. According to sources, the officials did, however, take action against others who had not obtained permission from the district coordination officer for collecting hides and were deliberately leaving out the banned outfits.
The organisation, previously reported to have been using names of their sister and sub-organisations, came out and started using their own names on Eid. Their workers were seen visiting different locations of the city on their vehicles which were decorated with the organisations’ flags and were playing hymns and anthems to request the citizens to give them the hides of the sacrificial animals.
They had also set up camps on various roads and outside different mosques of the city. It is important to mention here that before Eidul Adha, strict orders had been issued by the federal government that no banned organisations, individual or NGO will be allowed to collect the hides of sacrificial animals without obtaining a No Objection Certificate from the district administration. Government had also instructed that in case of violation of this order, security personals could arrest such elements who forcibly collect animal hides and they will be punished under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. According to sources more than 30 militant organisations were nominated by the government that was strictly banned from collecting hides and in this connection federal government had also handed over a list to the police departments to keep an eye on them.
The federal government had also directed the provincial governments to impose section 144 in all districts to avoid clashes over the collection of animal hides on the eve of Eidul Azha. Government also advised that only charity organisations could apply for permission to collect hides and will be required to attest in writing that they do not have links to any banned outfit. “There is no way that the government can stop these organisations,” said Abdul Rahman, a citizen, adding that this was not the first time that the government’s writ was being violated. “Police is taking action against the NGOs and political organisations but it is not stopping the banned ones from collecting hides,” said Waheed, a resident of Ravi Town, adding that the government should ban hides collection if it could not stop these organisations.
