The falcons were recovered from a van heading from Dera Ismail Khan to Karachi.
A magistrate on Wednesday ordered the Customs Intelligence and Wildlife Department officials to release 16 falcons seized on Tuesday.
The falcons were recovered from a van heading from Dera Ismail Khan to Karachi. The van was stopped at Pul Qambar near Taunsa Barrage.
Mian Muhammad Abbas, the wildlife assistant director for Multan, said that the raid was conducted on information received from the Customs Intelligence.
He said the driver’s helper, identified as Badarul Islam of Peshawar, had been arrested. He told the officials that an unidentified man had asked him to transport 16 “pigeons”, each confined in a box, to Karachi. He said he had been offered Rs1,000 for each box.
The driver told the officials that he was not aware of the boxes being on board. Abbas said her was allowed to leave for its destination.
Abbas said falcons were an endangered species. Their transportation and catching were banned.
On Wednesday, the suspect was produced before Magistrate Rubina Kausar, who ordered him to pay a Rs5,000 fine. She also ordered the wildlife officials to release the falcons. She said she would personally monitor the release. Abbas said the birds would be released on Thursday (today). Commissioner Syed Ali Murtaza will also be present.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2013.
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