LAHORE: The federal government told the Lahore High Court on Friday that permits issued to foreign dignitaries to hunt internationally protected and migrated birds were being cancelled.

During hearing of a petition against such permits, a deputy attorney general stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also decided to abolish the policy of issuing hunting permits.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza directed the law officer to submit a written reply about repealing of the policy on the next hearing.

Naeem Sadiq, a citizen of Karachi, filed the petition saying the permits issued by the government were in violation of the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2007.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued 29 more hunting permits to foreign dignitaries of Gulf States even after a ban imposed by the court.

Previously 33 permits/licences had been issued when the petitioner approached the court. The petitioner asked the court to cancel all permits for being in violation of international laws.

Property auctioned: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told the Lahore High Court on Friday that one of the properties of the chief executive of a visa consultancy firm and his wife has been auctioned.

FIA Director General (DG) Usman Anwar appeared before the court of Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and said other properties of Asim Malik and Zobia Rubab Malik were also being confiscated. He said Rs380 million had been obtained from the auction of the couple’s seized properties. Another property in Bhera would be auctioned soon, he added.

The judge was hearing over 100 petitions against Future Concern filed by the people duped by the couple in the name of sending them abroad. They alleged that Malik neither sent them abroad nor returned their money.

The petitioner’s counsel complained the process for repatriation of the couple and distribution of recovered money among the affectees was very slow.

Justice Naqvi adjourned further hearing till Jan 16, 2015 and directed the FIA DG to expedite the auction process and efforts to bring the couple back.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014