SC Lifts Ban On Hunting Of Houbara Birds

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday lifted a ban imposed on houbara bustard hunting, while announcing a short verdict on petitions filed by federal and provincial governments. Four judges were in favour of hunting of houbara bustard, while Justice Qazi Faez Isa opposed it. The final decision on the case was made on January 8th after hearing was completed.

The ban was imposed by former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja on August 20, who also ordered the cancellation of all existing permits issued by government to Arab rulers.

While reviewing its last year’s judgement, a five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali announced its judgment over the federal and provincial governments review petitions against the court’s verdict on the ban on houbara bustard hunting. Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam’s (PML-Q) leader Chaudary Shujaat and the chieftain of Mazari tribe Balakh Sher Mazari and withdrawn their pleas.

The court approved review petitions of the federal and provincial government.

Wealthy hunting parties from the Gulf travel to Pakistan every winter to kill the houbara bustard using hunting falcons, a practice that has sparked controversy in recent years because of the bird’s dwindling numbers.

But despite the ban, licenses or permits were being issued to VIP dignitaries of Gulf states for hunting the species.

The matter of hunting of houbara bustard caught public attention when Arab royals were issued as many as 18 permits to hunt the bird despite a formal ban.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the bustard as a vulnerable species with a global population of between 50,000 and 100,000.

By removing the ban on hunting, SC upheld the government’s request to lift the ban, while quashing Balochistan High Court’s decision.

Additional Advocate General The Punjab had submitted that they were not heard by the apex court.