Balochistan home minister booked for hunting endangered animal

Sarfaraz Bugti's photo with a dead Markhor has gone viral on social media

QUETTA: Levies officials have registered a case against Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti for hunting a Markhor, an endangered species.

The case was lodged on March 26 after Balochistan High Court took notice of the ‘illegal hunting’.

A senior official of the forest department said the country's national animal, whose poaching is prohibited by the state, was hunted in the Taktu area of Balochistan last month.

A photo showing Bugti with his rifle and a dead Markhor has since gone viral on social media.

PHOTO: TWITTER



The home minister, when contacted, said he did not receive any court notice, and denied hunting the animal 'illegally'.

PHOTO: TWITTER

The provincial high court, during the case proceedings, directed the forest department to either penalise the home minister ($80,000-$100,000) or take legal action against him. The hearing has been adjourned till April 3.