Ex-wildlife chief faces legal setback

ISLAMABAD

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the former chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Rina Saeed Khan, seeking the quashing of a corruption case lodged against her by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan rejected the plea to annul the proceedings. A detailed written order, setting out the reasons for the dismissal, will be issued in due course. The ruling represents yet another legal setback for the former official.

Earlier, on November 3, 2025, the same judge had turned down her application to halt the FIA's inquiry into the matter. Rina Saeed Khan had also approached the court separately, alleging "harassment" by the FIA and seeking relief.

However, the IHC Registrar's Office raised technical objections to that petition, which the court subsequently upheld. The Registrar's Office questioned the legal propriety of combining a plea to prevent alleged harassment with requests for pre-arrest bail and protection from arrest.

It had raised the objection, questioning how a plea seeking protection from harassment and the return of a mobile phone could simultaneously include requests for bail and protection from arrest.

The FIA had initiated a formal investigation against the former chairperson, culminating in the registration of a case. The allegations pertain to corruption and abuse of authority, reportedly causing financial loss to the national exchequer. With the dismissal of the petition, the case will now proceed in accordance with the law.