Daily Times

KARACHI: Illegal roadside cattle markets flooded across the metropolis are potentially exposing the city residents of ‘Congo virus’ threat. These markets are also violating Sindh Home Department ban on establishing any markets within the jurisdiction of Karachi Division.

The residents are facing multiple threats like robberies due to the rush in the illegal markets and the available animals are unchecked and not properly vaccinated. The residents are witnessing a flood of illegal roadside cattle markets inside different parts of the city.

Buying and selling of sacrificial animals inside city roads and footpath have created unnecessary traffic jam and serious traffic violations are been made but the area police is minting money from the sellers of these illegal business neglecting the miseries faced by the locals totally in violations of their duty rules.

These animal sellers can be seen on every footpath of densely and wealthy parts of the city. These unidentified sellers are working conveniently with their identities going unchecked as the security agencies have already warned of the possibility terrorist attacks during the festive season.

These illegal markets are stuated at Safoora Chowrangi, Gulistan Johar, Old Sabzi Mandi, Peoples Chowrangi behind Mazar e Quaid, University Road near Metro, Safari Park and Karachi University, Rashid Minhas Road, Dalmia, Burns Road and many other busy streets which have been converted into illegal cattle markets.

A health expert says that all those animals available in these illegal markets were not properly checked and there could be a possibility of potential thread of ‘Congo Virus’ which can spread in the city.

On the other hand, health and livestock departments do not seem to take sufficient steps to save the Karachites from the threat of Congo virus, which has already claimed about half a dozen lives in the city.

The citizens have demanded from the commissioner Karachi, IGP Sindh and other officials to take stern action to end the illegal cattle mandis set up on the roads and streets of Karachi.

An errant resident, Aminullah Khan told this scribe that he lived in a bungalow and his family is disturbed due to rush that goes till 3am in the morning. He said, “If any medical emergency would occur to his elderly parents, he would not be able to travel due to rush and traffic jams in his whole vicinity.

Another resident of Gulistan Jauhar, Khalid Hameed said, there is a nexus between animal traders and corrupt police officials which is the reason of ban violation in the city. He said, senior police officials should take action because it is an open opportunity to anti-state elements.

Last week, the Commissioner Karachi had notified eight places at peripheral area of Karachi while he banned setting up of cattle markets elsewhere in the city areas under section 144 Cr.P.C.

The Sindh home department has imposed a ban on establishing cattle markets within the jurisdiction of Karachi Division. The exceptions include Super Highway, Malir 15 Asoo Goth, Landhi cattle market, Rice Godown Landhi near Babar Market, Hamdard University near Manghopir, Mowach Goth Baldia Town, cattle markets permitted by the station commander in the limits of the Clifton Cantonment Board and those in the limits of Karachi Cantonment Board by its president.

The ban has been imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and will remain in effect till September 12, 2016.

The Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to take action in case of violation under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).