KOHAT: Kohat is called the haven for grey and black partridges, but their illegal hunting goes on by high-ranking officials, politicians and dignitaries without any check.

The hunting season of Siberian migratory birds which started from November 25, 2018, had ended on Feb 3, 2019, but high-ranking officials, politicians and locals continue to illegally hunt the birds.

Therefore, the number of species migrating to Kohat has come down from 200 to only 35, relevant officials said.

They said the department had introduced special permit system for partridge hunting, but even then the officials enjoyed illegal hunting even during their breeding season.

The Afghan refugees living astride the Darra Adamkhel mountains, where red-legged partridges are in abundance, catch their chicks and sell them in bazaars.

Every deputy commissioner posted here loves to go for hunting along with friends and shoots them as many as he wants.

Former governor Lt-Gen retired Fazle Haq used to visit Toi Banda on helicopter, and the wildlife staff freed dozens of partridges in the forest to show their efficiency of preserving them.

He was so bad tampered that due to his fear nobody could stop him from hunting the birds above the allowed number.

Divisional forest officer, Abdul Samad, when contacted, told Dawn that 140 field conservators had controlled illegal hunting by 100 per cent.

He said last year 821 permits were issued for hunting from which the department earned Rs2.5 million, Rs500,000 above the target.

He said 90 per cent money from sale of permits went to community and 10 per cent was kept by the government to be spent on various community welfare projects and raising awareness about conservation and protection of wildlife.

COUNSELING SESSION: The transvestite association has complained of hooting at them by people at public places and harassment by police which has made it impossible for them to go outside to bazaars and other public spots.

The complaint was made by Khursheed alias Jedi, president of the Kohat city transvestite community, while speaking at a counseling session and medical camp arranged by Rehnama Family Planning Association of Pakistan.

She said there was no formal organisation to safeguard their interests.

She said they could not even think about going for outing on excursions like other people to local resorts as the people teased them.

She said when they passed by mosques people objected and warned them not to come again on the route.

She appealed to the police high-ups to ask the lower staff to change their attitude towards them and stop demanding bribe from them while coming late in the night after performance at marriage ceremonies.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2019