Foolproof security on Eidul Azha: Malik
24 October, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said foolproof security arrangements would be made on Eidul Azha and provincial governments have been asked to assign special duties in this regard. He was talking to reporters after chairing a meeting to review law and order and making special security arrangements for Eid. He said besides deciding security measures, the meeting also finalised code of conduct which would be followed for the collection of hides of sacrificial animals. Hides and skin collection organisations should have certificate from the DCO or the DPO, he said, adding that the banned organisations in any circumstances would not be allowed to collect the skins. Malik said the banned organisations under ATA were not allowed to carry any public activity, including hide collection. These banned organisations would not be allowed to collect skins/donations under any other name even, he said. The interior minister said home secretaries have been asked to arrange special random video monitoring of collection of skins to ensure that elements of proscribed organizations are not involved in this activity. Usage of loudspeaker would not be allowed to announce request for the collection of hides while nobody would coerce/harass anybody in collection of skins, he said. Charity organisations would submit an application to the district administration concerned and obtain permission for such collection in specific areas and locations where public would handover such skins voluntarily. The minister said such organisations, parties and NGOs engaged in collection of skins would attest in writing that they do not belong to any banned or proscribed organisation. Section 144 CrPC would be imposed in all districts to avoid occurrence of clashes over collection of skins, he said and added that nobody would be allowed to coerce or force anyone to hand over the sacrificial skins and violators would be punished under relevant section of ATA 1997. Malik said law enforcement agencies (LEAs), such as police and rangers would have the right to arrest such culprits and special powers would be given to them in this regard. He said business community purchasing hides/skins would ensure that they buy them from those who have lawful permission for the collection. The minister said Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been instructed to provide data of those persons/organisations, to provincial authorities, who were habitual in use of coercive methods in collection of skins. End.
|
