By Saleem Mubarak
LAHORE - The Punjab police have drawn up a plan to provide protection to citizens as the incidence of animal snatching and other crimes spikes ahead of Eidul Azha.
Among other factors, inflation is said to be a major factor leading to high crime rate.
A large number of people visit cattle markets with cash to purchase sacrificial animals. The Punjab police have shared the strategy to minimise crime with heads of all districts.
The Punjab government is setting up multiple markets in different areas to facilitate the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals. Owing to the anticipated influx of people, these markets can attract criminals to target vendors and buyers carrying significant cash.
Punjab police security plan
Speaking to Dunya News, Shahzada Sultan, additional inspector general of police operations (Punjab), said pickets would be raised near the cattle markets and adjoining areas.
He said snap checking would also be ensured to create deterrence (among criminals) and a sense of protection among market visitors and animal sellers.
He said all district and divisional police heads had been directed to ensure special security arrangements at sacrificial animal sale points to protect vendors and buyers. “Animal sale will be allowed only at the designated points,” he said.
Besides, he said, crackdown would be carried out on the members of proscribed organisations.
“Measures will also be put in place to control robberies and cattle theft during the Eid days,” he added.
Community watch to combat theft
Atta Muhammad, a seasoned vendor who brings his animals from Jhang to Faisalabad, said he had been selling his animals in the textile capital of Pakistan for many years.
Every year, he said, the criminals snatched cash and animals from the sellers and buyers. “Police seem powerless to act against such elements and prefer to remain a silent spectator,” he said.
He said policemen were aware of the fact that a majority of sellers belonged to far-flung districts and were unlikely to turn up for investigations. “The policemen exploit this situation to their advantage and leave the vendors at the mercy of criminals,” he added.
He said many buyers preferred to pay sellers through digital mediums. But the majority of the vendors were not familiar with digital banking systems and preferred to deal through cash.
As for the safety of animals, Atta Muhammad said this time vendors would try to ensure community vigilance to deter theft and protect animals from the clutches of thieves.
Cash-carry caution
Shahid Hussain, a police officer, stresses the need for digital transactions at the animal sale points. He said: “We will try to convince buyers to pay vendors through bank accounts or digital wallets instead of carrying cash. Huge cash transactions make vendors and buyers vulnerable to criminal activities.”
A large number of people throng cattle markets, making it difficult for police to ensure patrolling everywhere due to limited resources, he added.
Speaking about the trend, he said “most people prefer to buy animals at night instead of day.” People should go to populated areas during day time to stay safe, he advised.
Sharing the modus operandi of criminals, Shahid said that in the past it had been observed that robbers monitored the movement of people near banks and ATMs ahead of Eidul Azha. The criminals chased them and committed robberies in relatively deserted places, he said.
Buyers and sellers shun ATMs
A bank officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it's not possible for them to install automated teller machines (ATM) near every cattle market. Even if the government provides ATMs everywhere, he claimed a majority of the buyers and sellers would not use them.
Why? The officer elaborated that many vendors belonging to far-off areas had no familiarity with ATMs. They would avoid these machines due to their lack of knowledge. Similarly, he said, the buyers avoided these to evade taxes.
“Our customers inquire about tax-avoidance plans following rumours that the government is mulling to strain their pockets. In the given circumstances, he said people would prefer to stay away from government scrutiny.
“Transaction through ATM means you are inviting the attention of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR),” he added.
Eid markets a tax goldmine
The FBR is actively working to enhance the tax net. Sacrificial animal markets could be a good source for the board to collect taxes. However, the board cannot go for this option for fear of public outcry.
An officer of the FBR told Dunya News that business of billions of rupees would be carried out at the sacrificial animal markets during a few days.
This would be a perfect opportunity for the FBR to collect significant tax revenue. However, “we cannot go for this option as the government will not support us due to possible public outrage,” he added.
To corroborate his claim, he said recently Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif turned down two proposals submitted by the FBR regarding tax collection. He declined to share the details of the proposals.
He said the government must integrate these markets into the formal tax system. The majority of vendors do not pay even a penny to the national kitty despite generating considerable profits, said the officer.