Iftikhar Hussain Jazib
Eid-ul-Azha is festival of sacrifice and 35 percent of house hold in Pakistan slaughters at least 1 animal on this occasion. In 2014, round 7.85 million animals worth Rs.270 billion were sacrificed. While in 2013, the hides of sacrificial animals generated Rs.10 billion on Eid-ul-Azha. As hides of sacrificial animals are also donated as charity, unfortunately terrorist and religious extremist outfits are depriving rightful beneficiaries of them under various disguises.
Charitable hides are actually aimed at helping poor masses, beggars, needy orphans and widows. The money generated by them is also spent on mosques, medressahs 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. Therefore, many Ulema have issued fatwas that it is not permissible to give hides of sacrificial animals to these anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan organizations.
Disrupting terrorists’ financing networks 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 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 and curtail their fundraising networks by creating awareness amongst general public regarding tactics of terrorists to raise funds.
As the holy festival of Eid-ul-Azha is approaching, general public must ensure that their alms and charity do not aid those people, who are involved in murderous rampage in the country. This will make them equally responsible of terrorists’ sins and crimes. Those Mosques, Madaris and charity organizations should not be given hides and skins of sacrificial animals who have any association with Al-Qaeda, TTP affiliated sectarian / Jihadi organizations.
