Endangered species: Verdict on houbara hunting not enforced

The govt has failed to implement a LHC decision,of suspending hunting permits issued by the Foreign Ministry to Arabs.

LAHORE:

The government has failed to implement a Lahore High Court (LHC) decision, suspending hunting permits issued by the Foreign Ministry to several Arab sheikhs.

In January 2014, Naeem Sadiq, a concerned citizen, had filed a petition in the LHC, challenging the government’s decision of issuing 33 permits to Arab dignitaries for hunting of houbara bustard during the 2013-2014 season.

The petitioner said that houbaras were an endangered species. He said the permits should be cancelled and the hunt stopped.

On January 23, 2014, the court directed the federal government to restrain the permit holders from hunting in the Punjab and noted that the permits issued by the Foreign Ministry lacked lawful authority. It also directed the Foreign Ministry to issue notices to those who had been issued permits.

“The Foreign Ministry failed to take any action on the directions of the court.
It did not place the names of 33 permit holders on court records, nor did it inform the Arab sheikhs to discontinue the hunt,” the petitioner said.

The court ordered on February 10, 2014, to restrain all 33 permit holders from any further hunting.

In November 2014, the Foreign Ministry issued 29 fresh permits for hunting. The matter was once again brought up before the Lahore High Court .

On November 26, 2014, the Lahore High Court suspended all fresh permits issued for hunting season 2014-15.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2014.