LAHORE - The City butchers have threatened to hold yet another sit-in if the government did not reopen their slaughterhouses, as pledged by the Livestock minister.
In a press statement issued on Friday, All Pakistan Butchers Association president Malik Iftikhar Wasim said that the Punjab government did not honour its promise to reopen their slaughterhouses causing unrest among the community. He added that at the time of their last sit-in outside Punjab Assembly on November 17, Minister for Livestock Arshad Jutt had assured the acceptance of all their genuine demands conditional to calling off their protest. “But nothing has happened so far,” he deplored.
Iftikhar threatened to widen the scope of their protest to other cities and denied ending the sit-in till acceptance of their demands. He also complained that the butchers’ community had not been consulted on the issue of their registration with the Hilal Development Agency. He said that they should have been taken into confidence by the government before making any legislation relating to their business.
He appealed to the Punjab chief minister to pay heed to their genuine problems.
Livestock secy inflexible to any illegality: Punjab Livestock Secretary Naseem Saadiq has reiterated that there will be no compromise and tolerance over the sale of meat of half dead and diseased animals anywhere in Punjab.
Presiding over a meeting, the Livestock secretary said that no stone would be left unturned to uproot the mafia patronizing such abominable business. He added that raids were being held against illegal slaughterhouses and 247 FIRs had been lodged against the offenders.
Commissioner Lahore Division Rashid Mahmood Langrial, DG Food Authority Punjab, DO Lorry Adda, ACG and officers of Livestock also attended the meeting.
The commissioner said that special instructions had been sent to DPOs to launch effective and efficient actions. He added that criminal-minded people were involved in sale of half dead and diseased animals, calling them the enemies of society. He affirmed that Section 144 would also be implemented to curb the loathsome business. He said that different vehicles were already being checked at different points by concerned departments.