LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday issued notice to the Wildlife Department for December 21 on a petition challenging permits issued to foreigners to hunt endangered houbara bustard and other birds.
The CJ said that apparently it seemed that the required rules were ignored while issuing the permits for hunting houbara bustard. Justice Shah ordered the Wildlife Department to submit a copy of summary sent to the cabinet for amendments in the schedule.
Social worker Naeem Sadiq moved the petition through his counsel Sardar Kalim Ilyas. He said the Foreign Ministry issued permits to the Qataris despite a ban on hunting of endangered houbara bustard.
He said that Nawaz-led government has issued 33 permits to ‘hunters’ from five Gulf countries between 2013 and 2014. He said the government could not issue the permits in violation of Sections 2 (n) and 9 (ii) read with Item No 20 of the 3rd Schedule to the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2007.
The petitioner added that during the stay of the birds in Pakistan, people hunt them in violation of international laws. He said the government has issued 25 licences. He requested the court to ensure a safe stay and exit for the Siberian birds.
The famous route from Siberia to various destinations in Pakistan over Karakorum, Hindu Kush and Suleiman ranges along the Indus River down to the delta is known as the International Migratory Bird Route. The birds start on this route in November. February is the peak time and by March they start flying back home. There are a total of seven identified flyways in the world.
He had requested to impose complete ban on hunting of these birds. He also requested to declare the hunting licences issued to the Qatari prince as illegal.
A law officer on behalf of the government submitted copies of the hunting permits before the court. He said that the licences were issued in accordance with the law.
He also said the government had made amendments in schedule of Wildlife Department.
The counsel said the cabinet division secretary had amended the schedule through a notification. He said the cabinet’s approval was required to make the amendments. He said the secretary could not exercise powers of the whole cabinet.
