Only a society that values life empathises with animals: Justice Minallah

Only a society that valued life would treat animals right, observed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Friday.

During a contempt of court hearing in the Islamabad Zoo case, Justice Athar Minallah said corruption had reached a level where even animals' feed was being stolen.

The IHC CJ appointed Dr Amir Khalil, an animal expert called in from abroad, as amicus curiae. He willl be assisting the court regarding finding a suitable place for animals in the zoo. Dr Khalil has been summoned to the court on Monday.

Further expressing his concerns on the kind of treatment being meted out to the animals, Justice Minallah said that, "No one is ready to change their mindset. Has anyone told you what rights Islam has given to animals?" he questioned.

The chief justice observed that only the sayings and hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on treatment of animals can change a person's mindset. He reiterated the court's previous directives of including Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) sayings in the school curriculum.

"If humanity was alive, there would have been no terrorism in the world," he observed.

Referring to the increasing number of cases of sexual violence against children being reported in the country today, Justice Minallah remarked that a society that sympathises with animals does not report mindless cases of child abuse.

Those who value life, will also not harm animals, he observed.

Justice Minallah said animals that are accustomed to living in mountain areas have been brought here for purposes of exhibition. "The world has come a long way," he said, adding that instead of making children see animals in zoos, take them to a theatre where they can learn about animals.

Children need to also be taught empathy, Justice Minallah remarked.

Wildlife Management Board Chairman Dr Anisur Rehman apprised the court that preparations to transfer Kaavan, the infamous old Asian elephant, to Cambodia were underway.

Considering suggestions of animal experts, the chairman also discussed having to relocate bears, Suzie and Bubloo, to Bulgaria and Jordan. He said that all provinces had refused to keep the bears in their zoos.

"It is a shame to say that we will also have to move our bears abroad," the chairman said. To this, the chief justice responded that there was no shame in keeping animals in a place that suits them.