QUETTA: Saudi region Tabuk’s Governor Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived in Dalbandin by a special plane along with his entourage on Wednesday for hunting endangered bird houbara bustard in Chagai desert.

The Saudi ambassador, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Balochistan Minister for Sports and Culture Mujibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni, MPA Sakhi Jan Notezai, Quetta Commissioner Qambar Dashti, Chagai District Council Chairman Mir Daud Khan Notezai and senior officials welcomed him at airport.

Take a look: Saudi prince to hunt rare bird in Chagai despite court ban

His convoy, escorted by security personnel, left the airport for his hunting camp in Bar Tagzi, about 35km off Dalbandin. Personnel of law-enforcement agencies, including the Frontier Corps, police and Levies, were deployed for security of the Saudi prince.

A division bench of the Balochistan High Court had banned hunting of houbara bustard in the province and ordered cancellation of all permits issued for the purpose.

Chagai Divisional Forest Officer Saifullah Zehri said hunting of houbara bustard and other endangered species of birds was illegal. He said the court had issued the order on an application filed by former speaker of Balochistan Assembly Mohammad Aslam Bhootani.

The official said the forest department had not given permission for hunting and it was looking into the issue.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2015

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