PESHAWAR: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that 15 to 20 giraffes have died at the Peshawar Zoo. He questioned who has allowed the import of the animal?
The chief justice issued the remarks while hearing a case against the import of rare and exotic animals on Monday. He said that import of exotic animals is a ‘violation’ of treaties signed by Pakistan with the international community. The chief justice said the scientific and management authority of the federal ministry of climate change should review before allowing the import of exotic animals.
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The chief justice reprimanded the representative of the Ministry of Climate Change and remarked, “You are not doing what your real job is. Do you want the court to run the federal government? The job of the court is to explain the law.” The Chief Justice remarked that the Ministry of Climate Change was earlier directed to amend the Animal Import Policy Order and craft it according to the agreements signed by Pakistan with the international community. The Ministry of Climate Change, through its representative, said that the Ministry of Commerce will amend the import policy order and if the court issues directives.
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The Chief Justice questioned whether the Ministry of Climate Change’s job was only to plant trees. The representative of the Ministry of Climate Change said that notifications from the Management and Scientific Authority have been submitted. On this the Chief Justice inquired whether the two forums are functional. How many import cases have been allowed by the Management Authority so far?
The Chief Justice said that people are keeping exotic animals in their homes, import of such animals is a violation of international treaties. The scientific and management authorities have to review before allowing the import of rare animals. After hearing, the bench adjourned the case for three weeks.