LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to submit reply in a petition of Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation challenging ban on collection of sacrificial animals’ hides on Eidul Azha.
Salman Munir, foundation’s secretary, filed the petition and submitted that the ban saying his organization was not a proscribed one and a registered NGO which always helped people of marginalised areas. The petitioner said that his organisation was not involved in any kind of terrorism.
He pointed out the foundation worked for digging wells in Balochistan and Thar for supply of water to poor inhabitants of the areas. He said the foundation was also working in interior Sindh and Balochistan to convert people, who on account of deprivation were being forced to take anti-Pakistan position.
The counsel told the court that Punjab home department issued a list of banned outfits imposing a ban on them for collecting sacrificial hides. He said the department also mentioned the Foundation in the list whereas it had never been a proscribed organization. He prayed the court to set aside the impugned ban for being unlawful.
After hearing the initial arguments of the petitioner’s counsel, Justice Mahmood Maqbool Bajwa directed the government to submit its reply by Sept 21.