Pakistan TikToker booked for setting forest on fire
Wildlife official calls for exemplary action against those endangering forests
Islamabad: The Islamabad police have registered a case against a local woman TikToker for setting greenery and vegetation on fire inside the Maragalla Hills National Park (MHNP) before shooting a video and uploading it on TikTok.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against ‘Dolly’ under wildlife and environment protection laws.
In the video, Dolly can be seen walking while the forest in the background is burning.
A senior police officer of Islamabad Capital territory (ICT) said a team has been constituted to arrest the TikToker. “We are examining the video as well as evidence that could lead us to nab her,” he said.
MHNP protected under law
“The area is part of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), which has already been protected under law against any activity that can cause harm to the park and its living. In the past, too, the area has been devastated by fires causing damage to the MHNP’s ecosystem,” the FIR said.
The act of setting forest on fire is a violation under Landscape Act 1966, Forest Act 1927, Environment Protection Act 1927 and sections 188 and 425 of the Pakistan Penal Code (P0PC), said the FIR.
Before Dolly, a video of two young men setting the forest on fire at Margalla Hills for the same purpose i.e. to create a dramatic impression drew widespread criticism and anger.
In the video, one of the two TikTokers could be seen setting the forest ablaze with a lighter.
KP jungles also set on fire
Before Islamabad, a video clip was uploaded by a young man in Abbotabad in which a young man could be seen walking while the trees are burning in the background.
The Wildlife Department of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has arrested the youth.
Sharing a video of the newly hatched birds after their mother either left the jungle or perished due to fire in the KP jungle, Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Rina S Khan appealed to the public to realise the damage fires cause to forest species. “This is the breeding season for birds in Margallas right now and their ground nests are destroyed by fire. They can’t even escape,” she said in a tweet.
About the MHNP fire incident, Rina Khan said, “This is a disturbing & disastrous trend on Tik Tok! Young people desperate 4 followers are setting fire to our forests during this hot & dry season! In Australia it is lifetime imprisonment for those who start wildfires. We need to introduce similar legislation here in Pakistan,” she said.
Dolly is a local TikTok star with over 11 million followers on the social media app with a verified account.
TikTok clarifies
While commenting on the recent incidents of putting jungles on fire, TikTok released an official statement and said that “any content that promotes dangerous or illegal behaviour would be a violation of our community guidelines and is not allowed on our platform.
“We work to either remove limit, or label content that depicts dangerous or illegal acts. We remain vigilant in our commitment to user safety and encourage everyone to exercise caution and responsibility in their behaviour whether online or off,” the statement added.