RAWALPINDI, Dec 9: Though the government had banned collection of sacrificial animal hides by outlawed organisations, they earned over 780 million by selling hides collected during Eidul Azha this year.

Sources told Dawn that the Punjab government has expressed displeasure over the failure of the police and the civil administration in enforcing the ban. The proscribed organisations also intimidated those officials who tried to stop them from collecting hides.

The provincial government had issued directives on October 11 and 15, strictly banning the collection of hides by proscribed organisations during Eidul Azha. The police and civil administration had also been directed not to allow such outfits to display banners or set up camps to collect hides.

Citing reports by the Intelligence Bureau Punjab about the details of sacrificial hides collected by the banned outfits and the estimated amount they earned from its sale, the home department has asked the police and the civil administration to submit their replies why they failed to check the activities of the banned organisations.

The intelligence reports said the outlawed outfits had earned Rs78,210,500 from the sale of the hides.

According to the intelligence reports, on October 27 when a station house officer (SHO) in Jhelum tried to stop the workers of Jamia Hanfia Taleemul Islam from setting up a hide collection point, he was threatened. As a result, the police let them continue their illegal activity.

In another incident on October 28, the Bhalwal police in Sargodha had to eat a humble pie for a lawful action. The City police had detained three workers of a banned organisation - Qari Mohamamd Nazir, Mohammad Akram and Burhan Haider - for collecting hides. But the police had to release them on October 30 reportedly on the orders of their senior officer.

However, the FIR has not been quashed.

The counter-terrorism department of Punjab had drawn the attention of the Punjab police chief towards the ineffective enforcement of law against the proscribed organisations that set up camps to collect sacrificial hides for fund raising during Eidul Azha every year. Those found involved in such an activity were to be booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act.  But no effective action was taken against them by the district administration and the police.

The Intelligence Bureau reported the names of the banned organisations and the number of hides they collected from different cities. According to the reports, Jaish-i-Mohammad (Al-Rehmat Trust) collected 222 hides in Chakwal, 356 in Attock, 49 in Multan, 120 in Khanewal, 150 in Vehari, 125 in Rajanpur, 4,000 in Lahore, 500 in Bahawalpur, 220 in Rahimyar Khan, 488 in Hafizabad, 65 in Mandi Bahauddin, 145 in Gujrat, 425 in Sialkot, 250 in Gujranwala and 105 in Kasur.

Likewise, Jamaatud Dawa Pakistan (under observation) Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation collected a total of 92,800 hides in the province. Of these 695 were collected in Chakwal, 256 in Jhelum, 542 in Multan, 960 in Khanewal, and 4,000 in Vehari.

Other cities and the number of hides are:  Sahiwal, 6,000 hides; Pakpattan, 1077; Okara, 1,300, D.G. Khan, 125; Muzaffargarh, 250; Rajanpur, 180; Layyah, 550; Lahore, 60,000; Bahawalpur, 600; Rahimyar Khan, 370; Bahawalnagar, 130; Hafizabad, 512; Mandi Bahauddin, 540; Gujrat, 810; Sialkot, 1,100; Norawal, 2,000; Gujranwala, 5015; Sheikhupura, 385; Nankana Sahib 1,013; and Kasur 4013.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (defunct SSP) collected 170 hides from Chakwal, 328 from Attock, 362 from Multan, 550 from Vehari, 98 from Sahiwal, 1,000 from Okara, 60 from D.G. Khan, 530 from Muzaffargarh, 725 from Layyah, 2,100 from Lahore, 255 from Bahawalpur, 200 from Bahawalnagar, 512 from Hafizabad, 592 from Mandi Bahauddin, 440 from Gujrat, 550 from Sialkot, 1,000 from Narowal, 500 from Gujranwala, 301 from Sheikhupura and 212 from Nankana Sahib.

Tehrik-i-Jaffaria Pakistan/Shia Ulema Council collected 184 hides from Chakwal, 85 from D.G. Khan, 110 from Muzaffargarh, 220 from Layyah, 90 from Mandi Bahauddin, 112 from Gujrat, 800 from Norowal and 300 from Gujranwala.

Likewise, Sunni Tehrik managed to collect 175 sacrificial hides from Attock, 96 from Multan, 8,000 from Lahore and 120 from Mandi Bahauddin. Ansarul Ummah (Harkatul Mujahideen) collected 250 hides from Attock and Jamaat Al-Furqan collected 10 hides from Multan, 22 from Pakpattan and 419 from Hafizabad, Al-Maymaar Trust (Al-Rasheed Trust) got 100 hides from Rahimyar Khan while Al-Badar Mujahideen collected 407 hides from Hafizabad.

The intelligence reports also pointed out that neither the police nor the civil administration had made serious efforts to enforce the government’s policy as unauthorised banners were prominently displayed and collection points set up by the banned organisations all over the Punjab.