Hunting the houbara: IHC to hear ‘anti-permit’ petition

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday allowed a petition filed by Waheed Khan urging the court to direct government officials to stop issuing permits to foreign dignitaries for hunting the endangered Houbara Bustard. The petitioner, through his counsel Yasir Chaudhry, adopted before the court that hunting of the rare bird is banned in Pakistan as it is internationally protected animal. Earlier, IHC registrar had raised objections over the petition directing the petitioner to attach copies of the permit/licences with the petition. On Wednesday, Chaudhry contended that licences were issued to foreign dignitaries and their record is inaccessible. The court then took back its objection and the case will be heard next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.