Outrage over 'victimisation' of ex-IWMB chairperson

WWF-Pakistan has expressed concern over the recent FIR against the former Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the actions taken to cast doubt on her integrity.

As an organisation dedicated to protecting Pakistan's natural heritage, WWF-Pakistan urged that environmental institutions and their personnel be supported for fulfilling their legal and conservation mandates.

"We firmly believe that the protection and conservation of Pakistan's environment and biodiversity must remain above political, institutional, or personal biases," WWF-Pakistan said in a statement, calling for impartial and transparent proceedings conducted in accordance with due process.

In June 2024, a three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed an appeal against a 2018 Islamabad High Court judgment declaring commercial allotments in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) unlawful, ordering the demolition of Monal and other restaurants in the park.

Acting in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives, the IWMB implemented measures to protect the MHNP — a legally designated protected area and one of Pakistan's most significant ecological ecosystems. The board had also envisioned transforming the Monal site into a public green space to restore ecological balance and provide citizens with a sustainable recreational area.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, said, "Conservation decisions grounded in legal and scientific principles should be respected and upheld, especially when they serve the broader public interest and align with the country's environmental commitments. Individuals and institutions acting in good faith to uphold environmental law and protect natural ecosystems deserve institutional support and respect, not retribution."

Under its former leadership, the IWMB made several notable contributions — including the establishment of a wildlife rescue centre for injured and displaced animals, opening new public trails, and introducing a weekly farmers' market connecting urban residents with sustainable local produce.

WWF-Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical support and coordination to the IWMB and CDA for the restoration and rewilding of the Margalla Hills Viewpoint Area.

In a separate statement, Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), lauded the professional contributions of former IWMB chairperson Rina Saeed Khan and senior board member Vaqar Zakaria.

He said that during their tenure, a wildlife rescue centre was established, new trails were opened, and a popular weekly farmers' market was introduced. "Both held honorary positions without any monetary benefits, underscoring their commitment to natural conservation," he noted.