Corrupt now stealing even food of animals: IHC

‘Society emphatic towards animals is more peaceful’

ISLAMABAD:

People indulged in corruption have stooped to a level that they have even started stealing food of the animals housed in zoos, Islamabad Chief Justice Ather Minallah gave observation on Friday.

He said corruption has reached such a level that even the food of animals is being stolen.

Justice Minallah was hearing in the case of deaths of animals in the zoo and contempt of court case against those responsible.

He reminded that the court has ruled that the zoo can no longer exist and adjourned the hearing till Monday. The IHC chief justice has summoned a wildlife expert from abroad, Dr Amir Khalil, on Monday for judicial assistance.

During the hearing on Saturday, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairman Anisur Rehman said that preparations are underway to send Kaavan the elephant to Cambodia.

Regarding the shifting of bears, he said that no province has taken responsibility for keeping them. The chief justice noted that only the sayings and hadiths of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) can change the way of thinking.

The court directed Rehman to take the help of the experts to do whatever is best for the bears at Islamabad Zoo. The chief justice said that all this is an indication of Pakistan's better image at the international level. If the aspect of human sympathy is alive, there would be no terrorism in the world.

“The brown bears are accustomed to snow. We brought them and put them in the heat of the Potohar region,” Justice Minallah said. He said that if there is sympathy for animals in the society then there should be no cases of child abuse and rape. “One thing I did not write in the decision was what was coming in the name of the elephant. In a society where there is no value of life, such crimes are committed. He who values life will not say anything to an animal. The one who takes care of the animal will also take care of the children and the women. He will not commit a heinous crime.”

Justice Athar Minallah said that this court had decided to include the hadiths of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the school curriculum. “We have brought the animal that Allah made to live in the high mountains here and put in the cage. Now, there is so much development, instead of showing animals in a zoo, show animals to children on screen.”

In May, the IHC had directed to shift all animals from Islamabad Zoo to other zoos or private sanctuaries, local or abroad, due to the poor state of the zoo, and to protect them from mismanagement at Islamabad Zoo.

The court had also handed over the management of the zoo to Islamabad Wildlife Management Board from Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation.

However, once the process of transferring animals to other zoos or private sanctuaries across the country was initiated, it proved to be deadly for some wild animals.

At least 10 animals held at the Islamabad Zoo have died recently during attempts to transfer them to sanctuaries due to the alleged incompetence and negligence of the caretakers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2020.