ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court has summoned a report from the senior officials of the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) on Friday about the steps taken for proper care and feeding of the Islamabad Zoo, also known as Marghazar Zoo.
Recently it was reported that animal feed is being sold in the market and health of some rare animals including a marsh crocodile and a black bear is constantly deteriorating.
While hearing a petition recently on the poor state of affairs at the zoo, the chief justice warned the officials they would face consequences if something happened to the animals.
Referring to the lone elephant ‘Kaavan’ in the zoo, Justice Minallah asked the officials to send the poor creature back to Sri Lanka if they could not take its proper care.
“How can you claim to import three more elephants while you cannot properly take care of a lone elephant in the zoo,” asked the court.
There is little room for tolerance and civilisation in societies where animals are badly treated, remarked Justice Minallah during the hearing.
Justice Minallah put a director and deputy director of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on show-cause notice for not looking after the Marghazar Zoo. They are required to appear before the court today and submit a detailed report.
Earlier, on June 25, the court had directed the MCI to hand over management of the zoo to the Ministry of Climate Change. The court also took notice of the lack of implementation of its orders dated August 16.
In last hearing on Monday, the climate change ministry informed the court that the MCI did not allocate funding for the animals’ feed.
To this Justice Minallah remarked if the government could not afford to nurture the animals, it should send them to sanctuaries.
He expressed displeasure over huge constructions on otherwise protected land in Banigala and Shah Allah Ditta villages meant for animal sanctuaries.
He remarked that elite people of Islamabad had turned animal sanctuaries into luxury residences and virtually destroyed Islamabad’s master plan.
Several notable individuals including Prime Minister Imran Khan reside in Banigala.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that it has proved that Islamabad Zoo was not meeting the standards set for a zoo internationally.
The IHC had earlier handed over the charge of the zoo to the Ministry of Climate Change due to the adverse condition of animals in the zoo but the Metropolitan Corporation has challenged it in the Supreme Court of Pakistan refusing to handover the control of the financial matters of the zoo.
