Ban on animal fights reinforced

SHOs to be held responsible if such activities reported

KARACHI:

In a move widely appreciated by rights activists, animal fights have been banned across the province.

The head of the police station will be held responsible if anyone is found organising animal fights in his jurisdiction. An order to this effect was issued on February 12 and a copy of the same is available with The Express Tribune.

The Sindh police chief directed all SHOs across the province to implement the orders. It stated that fights of animals such as dogs, roosters, bears, quail and others animals were being organised in various districts of Sindh.

"These activities are commonly witnessed in towns, especially suburbs, and are not only inhumane, but also banned under Prevention of Cruelty against Animals Act 1890 Section 3 and 6C [amended in 2018]. The fine for such an offense can be up to Rs300,000, but not less than Rs50,000," it defined.

It further said that police, being primarily responsible for implementation of this law, is not taking action the people involved in organising such banned activities.

"In all such cases, police should promptly register FIRs under the relevant law against the organisers," the order stated. Animal fights are often in witnessed in rural areas and the city's suburbs. For years, local influential people are the ones responsible for hosting such events.

"Police take bribes to allow these fights," said Abdul Aleem, a resident of Thatta. "I have seen several fights of roosters in the yearly Urs at different places," he pointed out.

Commenting on the issue, Sindh Wildlife Department Chief Javed Ahmed Mahar said the new order by Sindh police will discourage such fights. "It's highly appreciated," he added. "It will help to control quail and bear fights."

Another senior wildlife conservator said that there was not cognizance mechanism of the act. "There was a time when deputy commissioners kept a strong check over such activities before the Pervez Musharaff era," he explained. After that, he added, police and other different remained indifferent.

"This is a great order that the SHO of the police station will keep a check on the matter and lodge an FIR if need be," he said. "This is the era of social media and these kinds of acts cannot remain hidden," he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.