IHC reserves verdict on ex-IWMB chair's plea

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday reserved its judgment on a petition filed by former Chairperson of the Wildlife Management Board, Rina Saeed, challenging the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) inquiry into alleged foreign funding.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan reserved the verdict after hearing final arguments from all parties. During the proceedings, Advocate Qaiser Imam, along with other counsel, appeared on behalf of the petitioners, Rina Saeed and Waqar Zakariya.

Counsel for the petitioners argued that of the seven members of the Wildlife Board, only two are independent, while the remaining are government officials. Despite this, the FIA's investigation has exclusively targeted the independent members, which, the counsel contended, demonstrates mala fide intent.

The lawyer further submitted that Rina Saeed and Waqar Zakariya had been singled out for their environmental advocacy, while the Board had become dysfunctional due to the non-implementation of the Monal case orders.

It was additionally alleged that the FIA's proceedings had been initiated at the behest of a private restaurant owner and his brother, Kamran Ali Afzal. The counsel maintained that the complainant had previously harassed Board members.