Chaini Parwani –
Published On: November 15, 2021 at 10:13 IST
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued Notices to the Civic and Municipal Authorities over poisoning and shooting of Stray Dogs in the limits of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The Chief Justice Athar Minallah interrogated the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Capital Development Authority (CDA), and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to justify why they had not yet Drafted a clear Policy notwithstanding Orders by the Court in the previous year and causing unnecessary pain and suffering to Stray Dogs.
It was highlighted that the High Court banned the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) from shooting and poisoning stray dogs and further passed a Notification to Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), for Drafting a Policy to neutralize Stray Dogs.
Previously, before the High Court’s Order, the staff of the Sanitation Directorate of the Civic Agency used to either use shotguns or poison to kill stray dogs in the Residential areas of Islamabad on the excuse that they are a nuisance and health risk to Citizens.
In connection with the incidents Advocate Saira Mehreen Abbasi filed a Petition against poisoning and shooting stray dogs a few days back to which the Court demanded replies from the relevant Departments.
Justice Minallah sternly stated “We have told you to formulate policies instead of barbarically killing stray dogs. What happened to that? How can you violate the Court’s Orders?”
Advocate Saira Mehreen in her Petition highlighted that it was the duty of the Wildlife Board to ensure and take relevant measures to enforce the Provisions of the Wildlife Ordinance 1979 and the Act of 1890 so that no Animal is mistreated subjecting to unnecessary pain and suffering.
Justice Minallah stated, “The officials shall satisfy this Court why proceedings may not be initiated against those who are responsible for Violating this Court’s directions.”
The Court posted the matter for further Hearing on November 16.
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