By
Sajjad Shaukat
As the holy festival of
Eid-ul-Azha is approaching, general public must ensure that their aims and
charity do not aid those people who are involved in murderous rampage in the
country. Those mosques, Madaris (religious seminaries) and charity
organizations should not be given hides and skins of sacrificial animals which
have any association with the militant groups like Al-Qaeda, DAISH and
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or any other affiliated organizations. Different organizations are linked with these
banned groups and other extremist organizations which are operating under the
guise of welfare organizations, especially during Eid days.
It is notable that the
major terror and sectarian outfits such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Muhammad
Pakistan, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan etc. are clandestinely,
operating, but still there is no appropriate move from the government to
prevent them from collection of hides of animals. Some groups along with
foreign funded organizations are collecting hides without any official permit
or NOC from Interior Ministry.
However, illegal
collection of hides is a common observation, as some organizations, including
mobile phone corporations, get on an aggressive campaign of collecting hides
from door to door in every neighborhood.
Besides, hide collection
is a money-spinning business worth billions of rupees through export, the
activists of political and religious parties including banned militant
organizations vigilantly do whatever it takes to ensure they fetch the maximum
number of hides to earn profit. Notably, in metropolitan cities like Karachi,
Lahore and Peshawar; various banned outfits changed their names and set up
charities to continue collection of hides under various banners and posters,
appealing for hide donations from public.
To what extent this
practice distorts Pakistan’s image abroad could be judged from the report of
the Guardian which under the caption, “Eid animal slaughter funds Pakistan
terror groups,” wrote on September 15, 2016, “Huge numbers of goats, cows and
even camels will be slaughtered in Pakistani homes to mark the Islamic holy day
of Eid al-Adha…the sacrificial offering of around 6m animals will allow
families to fulfil a religious duty, guarantee some much appreciated meat
handouts to the poor… it will also generate an extraordinary cash windfall for
some of Pakistan’s most dangerous militant groups. Thinly disguised front
organisations have been gearing up to compete against each other and legitimate
charities to collect as many animal skins as possible, which can then be sold
on for cash…there are fears that very little will be done to stop illegal
groups from collecting hides either, particularly as many of them operate under
false names…in recent weeks newspapers have carried government advert warning
people not to give hides to illegal groups. However, a thorough crackdown is
unlikely…Muhammad Rizwan, the senior superintendent of police in Islamabad,
said the issue was not as critical to public safety as preventing suicide
bombers from getting into mosques or other large gatherings that will occur
across the country in the coming days…while most people will give their hides
to local mosques or respectable charities, some deliberately give to
militants.”
It is mentionable that
The National Action Plan (NAP) is essential part of Pakistan’s war against
terrorism, as it has co-relationship with the military operation Zarb-i-Azb
against the militants, including other related-issues of Madaris. One of the
important points of the NAP is stop funding of the militant groups, while
introducing registration and reforms of Madaris.
Public must be aware of
the fact that Pakistan Army has given countless sacrifices in the fight against
terrorism. In this respect, majority of terror attacks have been foiled/averted
and it is only the odd incidents which manage to succeed. In this context, a summary of terrorism
incidents averted during April-June 2016 shows—Islamabad & Azad Jamnu
Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan-8, Punjab-3, KPK & FATA-75, Sindh-3 and
Balochistan-58 (Total 147).
Being responsible
citizens, we should be alert and refrain from unknown hide-collectors who could
collect hides of the sacrificial animals, under the guise of the banned groups. People must know that, this will make them equally
responsible of terrorists’ sins and crimes.
Particularly, there
should be a strict watch from government side on all charitable organizations.
Action must be taken against illegal hide-collectors and their financial
channels must be traced to avoid or deter the terrorist groups from executing
their activities which we have witness in the country.
Disrupting terrorists’ financing
network is essential to combat terrorism as without effective check on
terrorist financing—fight against terrorism may not produce desired results.
Though the government has taken a number of steps to curb flow of terrorists’
funds, yet it requires extensive media campaign to create awareness in general
public regarding terrorists fund-raising system. The real faces of terrorists
must also be unveiled to deny their monetary support.
People must be informed,
especially through the electronic media that charitable hides are actually
aimed at helping poor masses, beggars, needy orphans and widows. The money,
generated by them is also spent on mosques, Madaris and preaching of Islam.
Militant organizations collect hides of sacrificial animals on Eid-ul-Azha
under various pretexts including Madaris, Jihad and welfare of aggrieved and
deprived Muslims, but the money generated by them is spent on suicide bombings
and other terrorist activities. While, many Ulema (Religious scholars) have
issued Fatwas (Religious verdicts) that it is not permissible to give hides of
sacrificial animals to these anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan organizations. Again
such Fatwas must be issued.
The government must
instruct the law-enforcing agencies to remove the banners and posters, asking
animal hide donations which will, directly or indirectly, benefit militant
outfits Otherwise, such charity organizations will remain a serious concern, because
many of them are responsible for spreading militancy by means of enormous
financial support they receive from public as charity.
Now, this ‘different
war’ demands cooperation of the people with the security agencies, which is
essential to win this war against terrorism. Hence, public must be bewared,
while donating hides of sacrificial animals to the deserving people and
institutes, as the militant groups can again avail the opportunity.
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