ISLAMABAD: Certain individuals were booked under separate criminal laws after they were found involved in hunting endangered barking deer on the Margalla Hills National Park, police said on Saturday.

A case has been registered in response to a complaint lodged by Assistant Director Wildlife Aisha Shahzad against two identified and some unidentified persons.

The police said the assistant director brought the issue to the knowledge of the police requesting registration of case and action against those involved in the deer’s hunting. Aisha Shahzad saw a video in which some people were slaughtering the deer on the Margalla Hills National Park.

The assistant director further said as per the Islamabad Natural Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2024, the barking deer is an endangered specie, the police quoted in the FIR, adding that after slaughtering the deer, the suspects took it to an unidentified place.

Information was gathered about the incident and wildlife field staff conducted an inquiry on the spot.

Later two persons were identified, who turned out to be residents of Gokina Village located inside the Margalla Hills.

Aisha Shahzad said what the people did was a violation of Islamabad Natural Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, and the punishment for the violation was fine amounting to Rs1 million and one-year imprisonment or both.

She requested that strict action be taken on this matter to ensure protection of Margalla Hills.

According to Section 23 of the Act, if an animal is found dead, it is the property of the local government. The complainant requested police assistance in the recovery of the animal’s remains, including skin and skull, which were considered to be stolen.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2025