RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has directed police across the province to implement the ban proscribed organisations from collecting hides for fundraising, and not allow any banned outfit to set up camps or put up banners on the eve of Eidul Azha.

The provincial government has already banned such organisations from collecting animal hides, while other welfare organisations are required to get security clearance and permission from the district administration in order to collect animal hides.

The police have also been directed to crack down on proscribed organisations involved in any unlawful activity, and ban the misuse of loudspeakers and the display of arms.

“The government’s policy regarding the collection of sacrificial animal hides will be implemented, and the activities of proscribed organisations will be watched during Eidul Azha,” Regional Police Officer (RPO) Mohammad Sultan Raja said.

The RPO said Eid prayers in open spaces will be discouraged, and layered security will be provided to all mosques and open spaces where Eid prayers are offered.

According to police sources, police have been directed to take effective steps to stop banned organisations, including those proscribed by the United Nations, from setting up camps to collect the hides of animals sacrificed on Eidul Azha.

These organisations have been named on a list of around 60 banned outfits which includes Laskhar-i-Jhangvi, Al Qaeda, Hizbut Tahrir, Balochistan Liberation Army, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Sipah-i-Mohammad Pakistan and Islamic Movement of Pakistan.

The RPO said: “The possibility of using Eidul Azha by miscreants and sponsored agents to destabilise religious harmony amongst Muslim sects cannot be ruled out.”

He added that various threat alerts have been issued by intelligence agencies, which is why a state of high alert will be maintained on the first, second and third days of Eid.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2016