Delay in shifting bears to Jordan irks IHC

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday expressed its serious displeasure over delays in relocating two Himalayan brown bears held at the zoo in the federal capital to a sanctuary in Jordan.

While hearing a contempt of court petition against the chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) secretary, a single-member bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, on Thursday sought an explanation for why were the two brown bears at the Marghzar zoo not transferred to an animal sanctuary in Jordan despite court orders and the fact that the government had initially issued an export licence for the animals.

CJ Minallah remarked that Prime Minister Imran Khan is concerned about the rights of animals. However, he added that the premier has been kept in the dark about the entire matter.

He further remarked why our attitude is so apologetic, adding that the lives of brown bears, Suzee and Babloo, are at stake and advised the board to refrain from making it an issue of egos.

IWMB Chairperson Rina Khan contended that they had reviewed the court’s order and noted that it did not direct the relocation of two brown bears to Jordan. At this, CJ Minallah remarked that it seems not all of the court’s orders in the case were reviewed.

The MoCC secretary told the court that they had issued export permits to send the bears abroad. However, he continued that the permit was then cancelled after the Ayub National Park had offered to keep them. The official conceded to making mistakes in the past and that they should be given a chance to rectify them and put its house in order.

At this, the court remarked it had already ignored many mistakes made by the ministry and IWMB. Minallah added that the sanctuary in Jordan had other bears as well as experts to look after two brown bears. Should a sanctuary of such a level be built in Pakistan, the bears can be brought back.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2020.