Sindh says India wants ban on houbara hunts

Counsel claims neighbouring country does not want Pakistan to develop

ISLAMABAD:

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Sindh government has claimed India wants to see a ban on houbara bustard hunting as foreign dignitaries, who arrange lavish hunting expeditions, are investing in Pakistan.

Sindh’s counsel Farooq H Naek on Thursday contended before the Supreme Court that hunting of houbaras was intolerable and excruciating for the neighbouring country, which does not want to see Pakistan develop.



But the top court was not to be impressed. Justice Qazi Faez Isa observed the issue should not be made into a conspiracy without documented evidence.

The top court’s five-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing identical review petitions filed by federal and provincial governments challenging the court’s ban on hunting of the endangered houbara bustard.

The houbara is prized by hunters from the Gulf states, who flock to Pakistan every winter. Although its hunting is banned in Pakistan, the government grants special permits for the Middle Eastern sheikhs on “diplomatic grounds” as they bring “investment to the social sector”.



In August last year, the top court had ordered a complete ban on houbara hunting in response to petitions challenging a 2014 Sindh government order allowing hunting under special permits.

Naek argued that licences for houbara hunting were issued keeping in view the considerations of wildlife protection. He contended that under the 18th Amendment, hunting was a provincial subject and the Sindh government had not violated any international laws.

Earlier, Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt told the judges the federal government was not against the court’s August 19 verdict rather it wanted to allow some form of “sustainable” hunting.

He added, however, the Supreme Court could not direct the government to legislate laws to prevent houbara hunting.

But Justice Umer Ata Bandial interjected, saying the court could interfere if the personal interest was vested. If there is any monitoring mechanism, then it should be brought on record, he added.



Justice Isa also asked the attorney general about the foreign ministry’s interest in the case.

Salman said as the matter concerned foreign dignitaries it fell under the ministry’s domain.

The court was informed that 0.16 million houbara bustards were released in the wild after breeding in nurseries set up in different countries.

The court will resume the hearing today (Friday).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2016.