ISLAMABAD: The government is planning to restrict individual animal sacrifices and sacrifices carried out on roads under a set of new standard operating procedures (SOP) for Eidul Azha, which will be finalised by June 30.

Feedback sought by the Ministry of Interior to develop SOPs for Eid have started to arrive from the provinces, which have suggested against allowing sacrificial animal markets within urban areas.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs, however, is finding it difficult to negotiate with clerics, who are demanding that seminaries be reopened so they can carry out collective animal sacrifices and collect animal hides.

“There has been a strict mechanism to collect the skins and hides of sacrificial animals. The clerics have asked for these restrictions to be lifted and to allow collective sacrifices in seminaries,” ministry spokesperson Mohammad Imran said.

Health experts concerned that interaction between urban residents and animal vendors could cause coronavirus to spread in rural areas

He added: “They are asking for seminaries to be opened for this purpose and for students to be allowed to return to help manage these affairs.”

The ministry is going to hold another round of negotiations with clerics on Monday, along with officials from the ministries of interior and national health services.

An interior ministry official also said that federal government officials are negotiating with organisations that receive the bulk animal hides to help organise collective sacrifices in various parts of the country.

Interior Minister retired Brig Ijaz Shah is spearheading the effort to devise Eidul Azha SOPs, saying recently that concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus are much higher during Eidul Azha.

An official from the interior ministry said that input from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for incorporation into the national SOPs is expected tomorrow (Monday), while Sindh has already sent in its decision not to let any sacrificial market operate in city limits and to only allow collective sacrifices instead of letting residents sacrificing animals out on the roads or in their homes.

However, authorities are apprehensive that SOPs related to collective sacrifices will be followed.

The spokesperson for Karachi’s Sohrab Goth sacrificial animal market Yawar Chawla said that everything “cannot be forced upon the masses - the people should realise realities too”.

The Sohrab Goth market is organised by Malir Cantt, and measures have been taken there to abide by SOPs. Mr Chawla said that more than a thousand people are dedicated solely to enforcing SOPs to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The NHS ministry has expressed concerns regarding interaction between buyers and animal vendors from rural areas. Health experts told the interior ministry that there is a possibility that sellers who come to cities may contract Covid-19 after interacting with urban residents and then carry the virus to the rural areas. They emphasised that it is essential to implement SOPs in animal markets.

Mr Shah recently said that with concerns that the coronavirus pandemic will reach its peak in July, it is essential for all segments of society including clerics and the public to follow SOPs.

“If we all are not careful in those days, there are chances that coronavirus infections will increase by 20 to 30pc due to carelessness,” he said.

He added: “We cannot stop you from exercising your faith and we do not want to dictate [to] the public over sacrificing the animals on Eidul Azha, but there are certain considerations and everybody knows the situation.”

The president will announce the national SOPs for Eid in the first week of July, after the provinces and other segments have submitted their input.

The SOPs will likely include guidelines regarding the buying and selling of animals, their slaughter, cleaning the area and disposal of offal. The SOPs for Eid prayers will be the same as the ones for Eidul Fitr,

The final outline of the SOPs will be forwarded to the provinces for implementation. Eidul Azha is expected to fall on July 31.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2020