Cattle smuggling: Court seeks reply on poultry shortage, price increase

PESHAWAR:

The home and tribal affairs secretary, additional chief secretary and CCPO have been summoned to court and asked to reply on why they have failed to curb cattle smuggling to Afghanistan.

A Peshawar High Court (PHC) division bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qaisar Rashid issued the orders while hearing an application filed by the PHC’s Human Rights Directorate.

“You (livestock department officials) are involved in smuggling,” the CJ said, adding the poultry association had submitted a written statement saying that poultry prices will not cross Rs165, but they have now reached Rs176 per kilogramme. “Same is the case with mutton,” he further said and asked the officials to reply why the agreement has been violated.

The court observed that the political administration, police, food and livestock departments are accepting bribe and allowing trucks carrying meat to pass through. The CJ said the smuggling has created a shortage of poultry in Pakistan and increased prices ahead of Ramazan.

Livestock department officials told the court they have deputed their men at different barriers to keep a check. Officials said only the ones who are authorised by the quarantine department have been allowed to transport cattle and poultry products.

Earlier on January 23, the PHC lifted a six-month ban on meat and poultry products being exported to Afghanistan when the association assured the court that the prices of poultry will not rise.

The court also issued notices against office bearers of the poultry and product association for their reply. The case has been adjourned till June 26.

Northern Bypass

In a separate case, the PHC summoned the federal deputy secretary of the finance division to appear on Thursday for failing to release funds for the Northern Bypass on time.

A suo motu notice was taken because of the delay in the construction of the bypass.

Northern Bypass Project Director Wazirzada Wazir said on May 7 the Finance Division’s Deputy Secretary Muhammad Hamid submitted a written notification stating the ministry has released Rs1.88 billion for the third and fourth phase of the construction. But in Wednesday’s hearing,  Wazir told the court nothing had been released so far and Hamid had misinformed the court.

The court issued a notice against Hamid for recording a false statement and adjourned the case hearing till June 13.

On September 1, 2012 the PHC served notices to the National Highway Authority and Northern Bypass project director, seeking their reply after they failed to construct the bypass despite their commitment to the court that the project will be completed within four months.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2013.