Punjab government, Saturday, banned setting up of sacrificial hides collection points by any political, religious or welfare organization on roadsides on Eid-ul-Azha. Provincial Minister for Environment Protection and Chairman Police Reforms Committee Col (Retd) Shuja Khanzada disclosed this while presiding over a meeting to review law and order situation on Eid-ul-Azha.Security has been made tightened to avoid any unpleasant situation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Eight to ten thousand security officials have been deputed to maintain law and order situation in the province. The minister said that viewing the security issues Punjab government has decided to ban the “khaal (sacrificial hides) points” all over the province. This is definitely a welcome announcement seeing that the money made through the collection of animal hides throughout the country is so astronomical that much of it is used to, no doubt, finance terror organisations that then skin our hides in bloody terror attacks and suicide bombings. In response to this crackdown by Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif’s government, a Jamaat ud Dawaa (JuD) — a banned outfit — affiliate group by the name of the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging this ban. Looks like this declaration by the Punjab government has really gotten those depending on hide financing by the scruff of the neck.That is the problem with these organisations; they reinvent themselves from hate spewing, venom-filled sectarian outfits to charity fronts that project a legitimate image of piety. In this way they continue to do what they do without any hindrance. What the Punjab government needs to do is recognise that the malaise does not end with the known banned outfits alone; a complete round up of checks and balances must be done to identify which organisation is just another name for a banned one. The trick is actually banning them and making sure they do not get their hands on the hides they want so badly. What has been happening for decades will, no doubt, happen again if the government does not pay special heed to the issue of reinvented banned organisations operating under new names. Millions are made out of the hides business and there is no way of keeping track of what is done with this money. No doubt, there are many genuine charity organisations that operate through religious seminaries and groups but there are also far too many terror organisations using the charity card that use the funds to wreak havoc upon the people of Pakistan. It is such an irony that the auspicious occasion of Eid can be traced to such malicious intent. The government cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this revenue of terror funding.
pk.shafaqna.com
