Punjab imposes section 144 ahead of Eid-ul-Adha 2025

LAHORE: To ensure public peace and the safety of people during the Eid ul-Adha holidays, the Punjab government has imposed section 144 across the province.

According to the details, Section 144 will be implacable in Punjab from June 5 to June 11. This action was taken in response to reports about Eid ul-Adha celebration activities, which are associated with unsafe and unhygienic practices.

Additionally, the Punjab government has put forth various guidelines to provide the public with safety, hygiene, and public order on the Eid occasion.

According to the notification, the slaughtered animal remains, such as animal heads and trotters, cannot be burned in public areas. The waste and offal from slaughtered animals are also prohibited from being discarded in drains, manholes, canals, or any other water bodies, in the interest of sanitary conditions.

The prohibited measures also include the construction of temporary cattle markets, in ways and at locations not authorized by the overall system identified for a controlled sale of sacrificial animals, allowing trades only at sites selected for better hygiene and without large populous crowds.

The restrictions were also extended to swimming, bathing, and boating, in rivers, canals, lakes, and dams, for the onlookers and to safeguard others outside of these activities, to handle activities that were unpredictable.

Moreover, under section 144, a public display of firearms and ammunition, to avoid threats to peace and security while the feast of Eid al-Adha is underway.

While giving details regarding imposing Section 144, a spokesperson of the Punjab government stated that these actions were taken to ensure the protection of human life, the maintenance of public order, and environmental cleanliness.

He pointed out that these activities are hazardous to health and promote widespread public nuisances and conflict. In the announcement, the department also restricted the collection of sacrificial animal hides to those organisations that are authorized.

The only authorised organisations/charities who may collect hides are bona fide welfare organisations and charities that should be registered with the Punjab Charity Commission. The purpose of public disclosure is compliance with the law.