Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday constituted a commission to formulate a code of conduct for political parties and election candidates, who display wild animals as electoral symbols.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued the orders while hearing a petition moved by rights activist Faryal Ali Gohar.
Justice Shah directed the commission to submit a detailed report including its recommendations regarding the compliance of laws pertaining to wildlife on the next hearing, scheduled for September 19. Brigadier (retd) Mukhtar Ahmad will head the commission. Its other members are: Wildlife and Forest Department secretary, a Climate Change Division representative, a Customs Department representative, a Federal Bureau of Revenue representative, a Local Government Department representative, technical members Saeed Khan and Uzma Khan, Faryal Ali Gohar, Assistant Advocate General Anwaar Hussain, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) country representative, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) director general and representatives of the wildlife breeding farms. Advocates Syed Ali Raza and Waqas Ahmad Mir will be the secretaries of the commission.
The objective of the commission will be to ensure a full compliance of the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 1974 and other relevant laws.
The terms of references (ToRs) of wildlife commission are to evaluate current practices and procedures of federal and provincial governments relating to issuance of import permits for bringing endangered species into Pakistan. It will also assess the level of compliance with requirements and conditions laid down in the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Flora and Fauna Act, 2012, and other laws regarding import of endangered species and to take into account measures adopted by government to ensure well-being, adequate housing and care of such animals in the country.
It will determine the scale of wildlife imports and the purpose for which such animals are brought into the country.
The commission will also investigate the conditions in which big cats are being housed by private individuals in the country. The role of the authorities in Lahore to curb the practice of exhibitions of big cats in public places will also be reviewed.
The issue of inspection of private wildlife breeding farms will also be discussed.
The commission will also evaluate the public safety role of local government if an exotic wild animal is openly exhibited and paraded.
The members will also receive and evaluate proposals and suggestions from local and international professionals to improve care and custody of wild animals and endangered species, and other animals in possession of private individuals.
The commission will examine the condition of wild animals in private possession and propose a method to the court to deal with the issue.
The commission will also formulate a code of conduct for political parties and candidates to be adopted by Election Commission of Pakistan that exhibition of a wild animal as electoral symbol will be prohibited during election campaigns and at public rallies.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2014.
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