Wildlife officials booked for 'exceeding authority'

ATTOCK:

Police have registered two FIRs against the Wildlife Department's assistant director and a wildlife inspector for allegedly exceeding their authority and confiscating firearms from officers belonging to an organisation.

The dispute stems from an incident in which AD Wildlife Zeeshan and his team reportedly intercepted individuals engaged in illegal hunting, allegedly under the orders of a senior police officer. In response, Zeeshan has filed applications with the chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and other high authorities challenging the FIRs and labeling them illegal.

The first FIR, filed by Waqar Ahmed, a resident of Battagram district, claims that he and his colleagues, Mujeebur Rehman, Sajjad Ahmed, Wajid Ali, and Khizr Hayat, were travelling to Tora Bera village when their vehicle broke down. While waiting, AD Wildlife Zeeshan and his staff allegedly accused them of illegal hunting and confiscated five 12-bore guns meant for personal safety.

The second FIR, lodged by Area Magistrate's Reader Aurangzeb, alleges that Wildlife Inspector Muhammad Yasin failed to submit the confiscated firearms to the police station on time.