ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday directed Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change to submit a detailed report, inter alia, explaining how exotic and endangered animal species are being imported and allowed to be caged by private citizens in conditions which do not meet their requirements.
A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah issued the directions while hearing a petition moved by Pakistan Animal Welfare Society through its counsel Muhammad Ali Raza Advocate against the permission granted for import of endangered species of animals and particularly elephants.
During the hearing, Ms Zona Zaidi, Deputy Conservator (Wildlife) appeared on behalf of the Ministry of Climate Change and stated that exotic animals and endangered species can only be imported in accordance with law.
The court observed that she, however, could not give a plausible explanation regarding import of exotic animals e.g. lions, reptiles, giraffes, etc. and their confinement in cages by citizens or in private zoos.
The IHC bench added that the import and confinement of exotic and endangered animals appears to be in violation of the jurisprudence evolved by this court in the cases titled ‘Islamabad Wildlife Management Board vs. Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, etc.’ and others.
It stated that this Court has unambiguously acknowledged and held that animal beings have natural rights and that they cannot be subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering. “It has been held that captivity of animal beings by depriving them from their natural habitats and keeping them in an environment that does not meet their behavioral, social and physiological needs amount to violation of their natural rights and subjection to unnecessary pain and suffering. The animal beings cannot be deprived from their natural habitats for the purpose of human entertainment,” maintained the IHC bench.
The IHC Chief Justice said, “It is an acknowledgement and affirmation that animal species have rights and that it is a duty of humans to protect them from harm.
The survival of human species on this planet is dependent on the existence of the animal species and their natural habitats.
Therefore, the court directed the federal government to satisfy this Court that the import and caging of exotic and endangered species is not in violation of the jurisprudence evolved by this court and the international commitments of the State of Pakistan.
It also directed the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue to submit a detailed report, inter alia, explaining under what authority of law, exotic and endangered animal species are being allowed to be imported. The report is expected to contain details of animals imported in the last two years i.e. from 01-01-2019 to 30-06-2021.
Then, the court adjourned the hearing in this connection till October 18 for further proceedings.