IHC orders FIRs overstray dog culling

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed that criminal cases be registered against officials found responsible for killing stray dogs in the federal capital, should credible evidence emerge.

In a significant development in the ongoing case concerning the culling of stray dogs, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a written order instructing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to vaccinate and manage stray dogs instead of resorting to their elimination.

The court also summoned the CDA Director of Municipal Administration to appear in person and explain the alleged killings.

The court further ordered the CDA to implement the 2020 Stray Dog Management Policy, which emphasises vaccination and humane population control over culling.

According to the written order, the petitioner's counsel argued that, contrary to the authorities' claim that Rs19,000 was being spent on the capture and vaccination of stray dogs, photographic evidence indicated that the animals were being killed. The images reportedly showed dead dogs in a CDA vehicle. An eyewitness, Dr Ghani Ikram, appeared before the court and testified that he had personally seen the carcasses of dogs in a CDA truck.