Lahore High Court on Friday the city district government to conduct a survey of wild animals being kept at farmhouses in the city.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed the government to get information from citizens through advertisements to find out about wild animals being kept by them
The judge was hearing a petition moved rights activist Faryal Ali Gohar about protection of wildlife.
A wildlife commission was set up by the court which submitted its recommendations for ensuring protection of wild animals.
A ban on exhibiting wild animals for election campaigns was also suggested.
On Friday’s hearing, the petitioner’s counsel said keeping wild animals at private residences was a violation of animals’ rights.
He said the commission had not convened its meeting to make recommendations for legislation about protection of wildlife.
The judge expressed dismay over the absence of the commission’s secretary and climate change division secretary.
The judge directed both officials and the establishment secretary to ensure their presence at a meeting of the commission on February 12, 2015.
Justice Shah adjourned hearing till a survey report was submitted by the district government.
In a separate petition, the LHC sought written reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Interior Ministry and the Punjab government on a plea seeking a safe exit for migratory birds.
Advocate Kashif Solomani, the petitioner, said every year in December, millions of birds migrated to Pakistan and returned to their native lands in moderate temperatures.
He said these birds were being hunted in Pakistan.
He said uncontrolled hunting had risked growth of the internationally protected houbara bustards and other migratory birds. He asked the court to order the government to ensure a safe exit for the birds.
A deputy attorney general told the court that the federal government allocated a venue for hunting.
He said issuing of permits was the domain of the provincial government.
A law officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought time to submit a reply on the matter.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah adjourned hearing till January 16, 2015 with directions to respondents to ensure submission of their replies.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2014.
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