IHC puts CDA, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation on notice over dog culling

Dog culling drives in Pakistan by different local bodies have consistently been met with criticism from animal rights and welfare groups. On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) put the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the city municipal corporation on notice over a petition against the killing of stray dogs.

The court warned officials that an FIR would be lodged against them if they were found involved in this practice.

Eyewitness Naveeda Asim apprised the court that on October 9, she saw a vehicle containing at least 200 dead dogs near the CDA's office.

Read: Report sought on stray dog control policy

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, who was hearing the case, sought detailed responses from the CDA and the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) over the incident.

The court accepted another petitioner, Neelofar's, plea to become party to the case seeking implementation of the stray dog population control policy framed in 2020, which aimed at vaccinating stray dogs instead of killing them.

Asim's statement was made part of the record. Both the women confirmed having witnessed the truck transporting dead dogs on October 9.

Advocate Altamash Saeed, the petitioner’s counsel, said the October 9 incident was a clear violation of the stray dog control policy introduced in 2020.

He informed the court that the case - Islamabad Violence Management Board versus CDA and IMC - is in line with earlier legal proceedings on stray dog culling. It underscores the authorities’ continued failure in implementing the stray dog population control policy, he contended.

Saeed said the policy was framed earlier in 2020 and developed in view of human rights principles and scientific research. Established under the chairmanship of Dr Ghani Ikram, it aimed to manage the stray dog population through humane and scientific methods rather than culling, he said.

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Saeed added that the policy emphasised vaccination and sterilisation to humanely reduce rabies and dog bites, noting that Islam prohibits killing animals without cause.

He said the petitioners had previously secured justice when both the CDA and the IMC acknowledged the allegations in an earlier case hearing.

Despite clear directives, Saeed argued, the CDA and the IMC continue to capture and shoot stray dogs, in violation of both the policy and court orders.

The court directed sought written responses from both local bodies on the October 9 incident and adjourned the hearing.