ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the foreign affairs ministry and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman on a petition filed against issuance of permit for the export of 150 falcons from Pakistan to Dubai.

The federal government has reportedly issued special permit to Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum for the export of 150 rare falcons from Pakistan to Dubai during 2019-20.

Former Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) chairperson Dr Anisur Rehman has filed the petition before the IHC.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah took up the petition.

Owais Awan, counsel for the petitioner adopted before the court that the government was not empowered to grant permit/permission for export of falcons.

Centre had issued special permit to Dubai ruler for export of the birds

The counsel said that falcons had been declared endangered species. Grant of permission is in violation of Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012, besides the law highlighted in the judgment of the IHC of May 21, 2020 in which the court has ordered relocation of miserably detained animals to the natural habitat.

The counsel argued that “the falcons being living beings cannot be deprived from their natural habitats as has already been declared by the IHC.”

Court issued notices to the FBR chairman, ministry of foreign affairs secretary and deputy chief of protocol of the said ministry and directed them to file comments within a week.

“Moreover, the respondents are directed to nominate their authorised representatives to appear before this court and satisfy as under what authority of law endangered species such as “falcons” are allowed to be deprived of their natural habitat and, thereafter, allowed to be exported.”

Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till December 18.

Falcons are protected under various international nature conservation conventions, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora. Trade in falcons is banned under local wildlife protection laws.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2020