Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said comprehensive security arrangements would be made for Eid-ul-Azha and banned organisation will not be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals. "Mobile service could be shut down for few hours in several parts of the country during Eid-ul-Adha due to security concerns," he said while talking to media persons after a meeting.
He said that any banned outfits would not be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals. Organisation and groups collecting hides should get certificate from DCO or DPO for the purpose, he said. The Interior Minister said that the proscribed organisations under Anti Terrorists Act (ATA) were not allowed to carryout any public activity including collection of hides. Strict directives have been issued to home Secretaries to arrange special random video monitoring of collection of skins to ensure that elements of proscribed organisations are not involved in this activity, he added.
The minister said that the government had foiled few terror bids with the help of media. "We have identified and captured few terrorist with the help of video footages provided by the few media organisations," he added. He criticised Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif for not accepting the Supreme Court's verdict in Asghar Khan case. He said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders were dragged to the court during Nawaz Sharif's government. "The PPP always respected the judiciary and his party accepted every decision of the courts," he added.
Earlier, Malik chaired a meeting to review law and order situation and special security arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha. An official said that the meeting decided that banned organisations will not be allowed to collect skin and hides of sacrificial animals. No loud speaker shall be allowed for collection of skins and hides, he said.
He said the meeting decided that charity organisations interested to undertake collection of hides/skins would apply to concerned district administration and obtain permission for collection in specific areas and locations where public shall handover such skins voluntarily. Interested organisations or NGOs engaged in collection of skins shall attest in writing that they do not belong to any banned/proscribed organisation. He said that foolproof security at all Eidghas and Eid congregational prayers in open areas and Mosques would be made to ensure safety and security of people. Frontier Constabulary (FC) Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) have been asked to enhance surveillance at western borders to guard against any infiltration of miscreants, he said. The official said that section 144 CrPc shall be imposed in all districts to avoid occurrence of clashes over collection of skins. Nobody is allowed to coerce or force anyone to hand over hides and anybody seen in act of coercing and harassment shall be punished under relevant section of ATA 1997.