Rally demands revival of Arab royals’ hunting trips

E-Paper | May 06, 2026

BAHAWALPUR: Hundreds of people took out a ‘United Arab of Emirates (UAE) Solidarity Rally’ in Yazman, on Wednesday pressing the federal government to allow the rulers of Dubai and other Gulf states to hunt migratory birds in the nearby desert of Cholistan.

The rulers from Gulf states have been poaching and hunting the wintering Houbara bustard birds in the vast desert of Cholistan for several years.

In August, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of all licences issued by the federal government to Arab royals for the hunting of Houbara bustard. The government followed the court orders, even though it said they had allowed the UAE rulers to hunt birds as a pillar of foreign policy.

The participants flashed placards and banners inscribed with slogans highlighting friendship and cooperation of UAE’s leaders with Pakistan.

Speakers demanded that the government accord the foreign dignitaries permission for hunting in the desert, saying such trips would bring jobs for thousands of people of the desert.

They raised slogans ‘Restore jobs of thousands of poor workers”, ‘Thousands of deserving families earn their livelihood through hunting trips’, ‘Due to them (rulers) the deserts are green’, and ‘The development projects have been completed here (by UAE rulers)’.

They also raised slogans in the favour of UAE rulers. The procession began from Tailwala Road Housing Scheme and concluded at the City Police Station.

The name of any organisation or body was not mentioned on any banner or placard at the rally.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015

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Rohit

Nov 12, 2015 10:11am

Sad truth of life is that poor people do not have the luxury of looking at the larger picture.......their only concern is getting a meal by sun down.....

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Mazhar

Nov 12, 2015 10:12am

Amazing!!!! rather to ask Government to support them they are asking to kill migratory birds. It sounds ridiculous.

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Abdul Manan

Nov 12, 2015 10:26am

Must be allowed,it is important not only enhancing area economy but also better relation with Arab Brothers

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FAISAL BAJWA

Nov 12, 2015 10:29am

Pakistan has international and moral obligation to protect the endangered wildlife species. Monetary gains should be set aside when dealing with issues that affect our national pride and repute as a responsible nation state, so GOP should educate the outfitter businesses of these areas. Our regional wildlife populations took a big toll by colonial hunters that many abundant native species were already extinct at the time of British exit.

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syed

Nov 12, 2015 10:54am

Shame on these protestors. Go out, find work and stop looking for easy money. Think of other parts of Pakistan where UAE rulers don't hunt, but in those places local Pakistani people are working hard and still surviving. Stop being parasite on foreign money.

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Sheikh Khalid

Nov 12, 2015 11:00am

@Abdul Manan Bird poop!! This should never be allowed!!

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Shashi

Nov 12, 2015 11:09am

I am reading it correct?.. People want birds to be hunted...

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C Roy

Nov 12, 2015 11:21am

This is seriously shocking... I do understand the reason for rally... its the economical benefits of these hunting trips... maybe the Govt. can turn these trips into Bird watching trips, so that some revenue is still generated and also the birds are safe

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Kiani

Nov 12, 2015 12:05pm

Now, we can't really do anything if our own people more specifically humans are against these Houbara Bustards! These Houbara's are facing complete extinction but people here have no sense! Only God help those, who help themselves!

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Kaka

Nov 12, 2015 12:11pm

Hunting may be allowed, but there must be some restrictions (the number of hunting birds). Wild life also needs to initiate the program that how the population of these birds should be enhanced or maintained at certain level. Open ended permission must not be given to anyone.

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czar

Nov 12, 2015 12:24pm

Radical means to garner support for illegal activities. I wonder if any government associated politicians behind it.

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ALI-Indian

Nov 12, 2015 12:44pm

@C Roy Arabs hunt "birds" not watch them :)

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Hamza Khan

Nov 12, 2015 01:11pm

A hunting trip from a rich Arab can create jobs for thousands and thousands of people. The same hunting trip can also eliminate corruption, bring rainfall and cure cancer.

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C Roy

Nov 12, 2015 01:24pm

@ALI-Indian I agree, but now you will cater to a different clientele... if you can have a bird sanctuary in Dubai and Bahrain, I am sure you can have one in Pakistan. We have many of them in India and it works quite well...please do a web search on Dr. Salim Ali, the famous Ornithologist, who was instrumental in setting up the Bombay Natural History Society... There is a now bird sanctuary near Goa that is named after him.

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Observer

Nov 12, 2015 01:55pm

@Mazhar dont be amazed. They are poor people and certainly are more concerned about earning lively hood than the birds.

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no comments

Nov 12, 2015 03:22pm

people have gone mad seriously.instead of opting something else going to barbaric means of life hood.this will not change unless or until the education revolution is formed!!

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Arif Abrar

Nov 12, 2015 03:57pm

Probably funded by either the 'influentials' in the area, or the same arab royals

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hassan

Nov 12, 2015 04:07pm

I am sure, this rally was sponsored by the corrupt government officials....

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just_someone

Nov 12, 2015 04:10pm

Paid protesters being used by Arabs through their mullah contacts. As an economist, I can tell you it's impossible that hunting creates 'thousands and thousands' of jobs. Permanent plants rarely create thousands of permanent jobs unless we are taking about investment in billions of dollars. All this is the Arabs using their hired stooges in Pakistan to pressure SC.

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Muhammad Farooq

Nov 12, 2015 04:28pm

Who organized this rally? Govt should help people with jobs and not foreigners.

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Zulfi

Nov 12, 2015 05:24pm

Hunting creates jobs-new principles in economics being created in Pakistan .

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S. A. M.

Nov 12, 2015 05:37pm

I used to visit my relatives in Rahim Yar Khan and there was a good hospital made by UAE. it was named after Sheikh Zayed. there were probably other good things find by UAE. I was told when the rulers of UAE used to visit Rahim yar khan many people used to be around his palace because they were given money etc by the Sheikh. all that is just fine but to come here to kill birds is not acceptable. the rulers should realize that so far as they are enjoying the area and the weather that's just fine but they should not destroy our natural habitat

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masyed

Nov 12, 2015 11:56pm

After almost 70 years of independence, Half of our population still goes to bed hungry! our biggest import is still Food, even our neighbours have passed over us ! Poor people only care for food to survive, they dont need to save the worlds endangered species !then we have the Dubai's rulers , who are not poor but dont give a damn to save these endangered species ! And Lastly this demonstration also shows how our Religious Leaders teach Islamic values to the masses ! we need to reevaluate our values ,if we want to be a compassionate human society !

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masyed

Nov 13, 2015 12:03am

This can only happen in Pakistan, people demanding to kill endangered animals, I hope that the social media doesnt pick it up to humilate the country!

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