Owners get falcons back

Were booked under Sindh Wildlife Protection Act

KARACHI:

A local court acquitted on Saturday two accused from a case pertaining to the illegal possession of falcons.

The South Additional District and Sessions Court judge announced the verdict during a hearing at the Karachi City Court.

At the outset of the hearing, the court directed the authorities to release both the accused, Aslam Gabol and Abdur Rasheed, and hand the falcons back to them.

According to the prosecution, Pakistan Customs had confiscated 75 falcons from the possession of the two accused during an operation in the limits of Gizri Police Station in October 2020.

Both the accused were arrested and booked in a case under the Sindh Wildlife Protection Act for 'illegal possession' of the birds.

On contrary, Gabol, claiming to be the owner of the falcons and having a license for keeping them, demanded that the birds be handed back to him.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2021.