CDA told to identify officials obstructing court orders

IHC reserves judgment in zoo mismanagement case

ISLAMABAD: The apex civic body of the federal capital on Friday was directed by a court to point out which of its officers were creating hurdles in implementing orders from the higher judiciary in the city.

Separately, the court also reserved its judgment in a case about the poor conditions in the Islamabad’s Margharzar Zoo.

A bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, heard a contempt of court petition filed by a private school against the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

During the hearing, CJ Minallah asked why the court’s orders of July 25, calling for the de-sealing of a school, were not implemented.

CDA’s legal advisor replied that as soon as he received the file, he had immediately ordered action to be taken based on the orders.

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CJ Minallah noted that instead of implementing the court’s orders, they were sent to a legal advisor seeking an explanation. He asked whether a legal advisor will now explain the court's orders?

Minallah rebuked official and remarked why were the court orders sent to a legal advisor in the first place instead of being implemented by the relevant official.

He instructed the CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed to identify those elements in the civic body who were creating obstacles in implementing the court’s orders and to submit a report in this regards within a week.

Zoo verdict reserved

The IHC on Friday reserved its judgment in a case regarding the adverse conditions of animals at the capital city’s zoo after arguments from the lawyers.

During the hearing of the case on Friday, CJ Minallah stated that the Islamabad Municipal Corporation (IMC) has admitted that it does not have sufficient funds to take care of the animals at the zoo.

A lawyer for the petitioner argued that the money earned by the zoo is not spent on the care of animals.

“Funds generated from the car park and other contracts at the zoo are not used for the welfare of animals,” he argued.

Disappointed with the behaviour of the municipal corporation, CJ Minallah remarked, “It is the issue of contracts which is affecting the animals.”

“It is our collective responsibility to take care of the rights of animals,” he further remarked, before reiterating the IMC’s confessed inability to care for the animals.

The court then reserved its judgment on the matter.

Earlier in the week, Chief Justice Minallah had issued written contempt orders against a director and deputy director of the IMC for failing to implement court orders and transfer administration of the zoo to the Climate Change Ministry. The two officials were given four days to submit their written replies to show cause notices.

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At an earlier hearing of the case, CJ Minallah had said that the zoo administration intends to bring three more elephants to the zoo while it cannot even properly take care of the lone elephant in the zoo.

Addressing zoo officials, the IHC chief justice had said that if you people cannot take care of the pachyderm, send it back to Sri Lanka.

IMC officials stated that no zoo currently operating in Pakistan met international zoo standards.

Suspects acquitted

A model court in Rawalpindi on Friday acquitted two suspects in a fake drug smuggling case.

The order was passed by Judge Raja Shahid Zameer who was presiding over a case about smuggling some 67-kilogrammes of heroin and hashish.

Shanzaib Khan, the lawyer for the petitioner told the court that the Chauntra police had arrested his clients Zain Aslam and Imran and accused them of smuggling drugs which they had no idea of. He added there was neither any evidence nor any witness of the incident while the laboratory report also contradicted the official account.

After hearing arguments, the court released both suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2019.