Objections on petition against permits for hunting Houbara Bustard removed

Islamabad
Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Wednesday removed objections over a petition where a petitioner Waheed Mehmood Khan has been seeking to direct the concerned government officials to stop issuing licences/permits for the hunting of migratory birds ‘Houbara Bustard’ to foreign dignitaries.
Petitioner through his counsel Yasir Mahmood Chaudhry advocate adopted before the court that the hunting of Houbara Bustard is banned in Pakistan as this bird is internationally protected. This endangered bird is also listed in the convention on migratory species of wild animals, also known as the Bonn Convention.
Earlier, IHC registrar officer had raised objections over this petition directing the petitioner to attach copies of the permit/licences with the petition.
Petitioner’s counsel here on Wednesday argued before the court that the licences were issued to foreign dignitaries and the record of licences is inaccessible for the petitioner.
The court then removed the objection and accepted petition for regular hearing. The petition has been fixed for hearing for next week.
Petitioner has cited federation of Pakistan, through secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs as respondents.
Petitioner said that he is a wild life lover and deeply affected by the issuance of permits by respondent to foreign dignitaries for hunting of migratory bird ignoring the constitution and prevailing wildlife laws of the country. That Pakistan is considered a winter golden home for the Houbara Bustard. As the winter starts in Pakistan, Houbara Bustard arrives here from the central Asian Region, Russian Siberia and from Magnolia as the temperature drops below freezing point in those areas and return back in the month of March and April.
That every year foreign dignitaries visits Pakistan and get the hunting permit from respondent in the presence of complete ban on hunting the said specie.
Petitioner said that the act of issuance of special licence and permits is liable to be declared illegal.
Petitioner pointed out that the foreign permit holders sometimes bring falcons with them to hunt the Houbara Bustard for which also special permits are issued by the respondent. The respondent also issue permit for the temporary import of falcons and for their subsequent re-export also. That the large number Houbara Bustard have deleted sharply due to this brutal hunting of foreign dignitaries on the Pakistani land.
Petitioner has prayed to the court to issue directions to concerned government officials to protect Houbara Bustard and stop its hunting from foreigners and hunting permits issued for 2015 may kindly be cancelled.