LAKKI MARWAT, July 9: A group of crane hunters at a meeting on Monday criticised a Balochistan government’s ban on crane hunting in the province and called for its withdrawal.

The meeting, presided over by Malik Samiullah Khan and attended by a large number of hunters, was held at the Malang Adda on the Indus Highway.

It was decided that the issue would be taken up with Federal Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Salim Saifullah Khan and District Nazim Lakki Humayun Saifullah Khan.

A committee comprising Falak Naz Khan, Roshan Khan, Sarver Khan, Nader Khan and Ghulam Rasool Khan was set up to discuss the issue with the minister.

The meeting criticised the provincial authorities for allegedly maltreating the hunters belonging to Lakki Marwat and other districts of the NWFP during the last hunting season.

They alleged that dozens of hunters had been arrested and a large number of cranes confiscated during the last season although the hunters had valid hunting licences. They demanded release of hunters and return of the seized birds.

A large number of hunters from Lakki Marwat and others parts of the NWFP go to Zhob, Satoai, Loralai, Qila Saifullah and other parts of Balochistan twice a year hunting cranes and other water birds.

The hunted cranes are either used for breeding purposes or sold out in markets.