Pakistan court steps in to rescue stray dogs from being shot or poisoned

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) under Chief Justice Athar Minallah has 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 court has directed the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to explain why they had not yet formulated a clear policy despite orders by the court last year.

The IWMB has not come up with a clear policy over the strays in clear violation of the direction given by the IHC, Chief Justice Minallah observed in the order issued Saturday.

Unnecessary pain and suffering

In his order CJ Minallah directed the IWMB chairperson to explain why the board had failed to come up with a policy to protect stray dogs from being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering.

In June 2020, the IHC had stopped the CDA and the MCI from shooting and poisoning stray dogs.

Meanwhile the court had ordered the IWMB to devise a policy to neutralise stray dogs.

Before the IHC’s verdict, staff of the sanitation directorate of the civic agency would either use shotguns or poison to kill stray dogs in the residential areas of Islamabad on the pretext that they are a nuisance and health risk to citizens.

The sanitation directorate would kill about two dozen stray dogs daily, said an official of the sanitation directorate, however, adding after the court’s orders the civic body was not in a position to take action against these dogs.

However in the recent petition against poisoning and shooting stray dogs filed by Advocate Saira Mehreen Abbasi a few days back, the court has sought replies from the relevant departments.

“We have told you to formulate policies instead of barbarically killing stray dogs,” an angry Justice Minallah said. “What happened to that? How can you violate the court’s orders”.

In her petition, Saira Mehreen submitted that it was the responsibility of the wildlife board to ensure and take appropriate measures to “enforce the provisions of the Wildlife Ordinance 1979 and the Act of 1890 so that no animal is treated in a manner that subjects it to unnecessary pain and suffering”.

During the hearing of the case, the court expressing its displeasure issued notices to the chairpersons of the IWMB and the CDA.

The chairperson is directed to satisfy this court that in compliance with this court’s judgment a policy was formulated by the board so that stray dogs are not subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering, the order read.

Violation of court orders

The IHC Chief Justice has also hinted at initiating proceedings against officials for bypassing the court orders.

“The officials shall satisfy this court why proceedings may not be initiated against those who are responsible for violating this court’s directions,” Justice Minallah said. The hearing was adjourned till November 16.