KARACHI, Jan 5: The Sindh government has issued a code of conduct for compliance by the various social, religious and welfare organizations in connection with the collection of hides on Eid.

This was stated by the DIG for operations, Mushtaq Shah, while presiding over a meeting held in his office on Thursday.

Representatives of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation, Edhi Foundation, Dawat-i-Islami, Jamia Binoria Town, Sunni Tehreek, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Al-Khidmat Foundation attended the meeting.

“The collection of hides takes a shape of a severe competition among various organizations which sometimes resulted in clashes,” Mr Shah pointed out.

He said it was in this context that the Sindh government, taking all the stakeholders in confidence, had issued a code of conduct to be followed by all of them.

All the representatives present on the occasion signed the code of conduct, in agreement to all its provisions.

The provisions of the code of conduct are as under:

1) A prior permission in writing from the Home Department or the DCO must be obtained to collect hides.

2) Only those registered organizations which are signatories to the code of conduct and strictly adhere to it would be allowed to collect hides.

3) Permission will not be granted for setting up camps for collection of hides.

4) Making announcements in this regard through the use of loud speakers in vehicles, mosques, madaressahs or offices will not be allowed.

5) The objective of the above restrictions is to ensure that those making sacrifices of animals should have the right to give hides to anyone they wish without any pressure.

6) There will be restriction on calling at houses for collection of hides. People could give hides to the mosques and other organizations present in their areas.

7) Those transporting the hides from one place to another should keep their national identity card, office card and a copy of the written permission from the Home Department otherwise the law enforcement agencies would have the right to seize the same.

8) The place fixed for collection of hides and the vehicles transporting them would be provided security. The relevant organizations are required to submit the details in this regard to the town police officer concerned by Jan 9, 2006.

9) Exhibition of weapons, sticks and/or steel rods will not be allowed.

10) Those found involved in collection of hides without obtaining permission or violating any of the provision of the code of conduct will be strictly dealt with under the law.—APP