‘Butcher mafia’ in fear and panic after raids in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi
For the first time, the ‘butcher mafia’ is in fear and panic. A number of butchers have gone underground because of strict action against them by the local administration. Previously, butchers were playing with people's lives by selling unhygienic meat due to inaction of the City District Government, Rawalpindi.
The Punjab chief minister took serious notice and ordered the local administration of Rawalpindi to continue its operation against the 'butcher mafia'. The City District Government, Rawalpindi, has formed special teams to take action against corrupt butchers under the cover of Slaughter Control Ordinance 2012.
Livestock and Dairy Development Director Dr. Abdul Rauf told ‘The News’ that they have started crackdown on butchers who are selling unhygienic meat. The Punjab government is making some changes in the Slaughter Control Ordinance 2012 to add maximum punishments and fines, he said. He said that according to the Slaughter Control Ordinance 2012, violators would face 5 years imprisonment and fine of Rs10,00,000. “If the new ordinance of the Punjab government is implemented, all violations will be controlled,” he hoped.
He said "In a crackdown on butchers selling meat of dead and sick animals, we have sent 50 butchers to the Adiala Jail. During the operation, a total 42 FIRs were registered against butchers. We have confiscated 8 vehicles in which butchers were bringing unhygienic meat from other citiies. During the current crackdown, we have caught 9,577 kilograms of unhygienic meat from different localities of Rawalpindi".
According to the Livestock and Dairy Development director, there are 259 mutton and beef shops in Rawalpindi. In a month, a total 6,811 big animals (beef) and 37,750 small (mutton) animals are slaughtered.
"In crackdown we have registered 42 FIRs under the Slaughter Control Act 1963 against butchers for bringing meat of sick and dead animals from different cities to Rawalpindi for sale. We have impounded beef and mutton being brought to Rawalpindi from different parts of the country, including Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Gojra and Jhang,” he said. He said that they have destroy such meat at Sihala Slaughterhouse and sent 50 butchers to the Adiala Jail. He said that everyday butchers bring around 2,000 kilograms of unhygienic meat to Rawalpindi from central Punjab. Butchers bring meat of sick and dead animals through motorway after purchasing it at cheaper rates, he claimed.
He disclosed that unhygienic meat is sold not only in markets but to also to hotels and marriage halls.
He denied all allegations regarding sale of meat of donkey, dog or pig in Rawalpindi.
Reliable sources said that dozens of butchers involved in selling unhygienic meat went underground to avoid action against them. All butchers in and around the city are in fear and panic trying to stop the crackdown, sources said. Sources also said that for a couple of days maximum private slaughterhouses were not functioning and the majority of butchers were coming at government-run slaughterhouses for slaughtering animals.
Beef and mutton of ill and dead animals is being sold in the markets of Rawalpindi, putting a question mark on the performance of the authorities and risking health of consumers.
‘The News’ learnt that beef of unhealthy or dead animals, locally called 'Laab,' is sold to wholesalers at the rate of Rs60-70 per kilogram. Pirwadhai, Sabzi Mandi, Raja Bazaar, Shah Nazar Bridge, Banni and Jamia Masjid Road are notorious sale points for such beef in Rawalpindi.