Qatari family booked for illegal hunting in Sindh

KARACHI: The Sindh Wild Life department has registered a case against a Qatari royal family for hunting in an area reserved for a UAE royal family. A First Offence Report (FOR) was registered against the party under the Sindh Wild Life Act.

According to documentary evidences available with The News, a Qatari hunting party, led by Sheikh Fahad Abdullah Abdul Rehman Al Thani, reached the Thar area and remained engaged in hunting for two days.

Interestingly, the Qatari party was provided with all facilities, including security, by the Thar district management and the Rangers. Well-placed sources told The News that after protest by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government with the Government of Pakistan, the Qatari hunting party was expelled from the area.

Earlier, no department had bothered to check the legal papers of Qatari party. Sources in the district management and law enforcing agencies (LEAs) confided that the Qatari party was initially allowed two days because of diplomatic norms but finally it was sent back, as the party could not obtain the required permit from relevant departments.

The said area was allotted to the UAE royal family in early 70s. Sindh Wild Life department officer Ashfaque Memon told The News that the Qatari party was found engaged in illegal activities at an unauthorized place and expelled with the help of local police. He confirmed registration of a case against the Qatari family under the Wild Life Act. An inquiry is underway.