THATTA, Oct 26: The conflict over demarcation of bird hunting grounds in the hilly terrain of Kohistan between two Arab princes has become the talk of the town for the past fortnight.

Ali Ahmed Junejo, advocate, who is pleading the case of Prince Nasir Loota of Dubai in the court of senior civil judge, Thatta, told the court on Friday that his client owned 5,223 acres of Barani land in Kohistan.

The land, he said, was allotted by the Sindh government in 1998. Since then, he said, his client had regularly been issued licence for bird hunting, including the houbara bustard, but the wildlife authorities, in connivance with Prince Arif Zarghauri of Dubai, were disallowing him to hunt in the area.

Jhamatmal, advocate, who is pursuing on behalf of Prince Zarghauri, however, pleaded that his client also held a hunting licence and a legitimate right to hunt in Kohistan.

The court was adjourned till Oct 29.

Interestingly enough, the media had echoed the protest of the local people over allotment of land to foreigners in Kohistan.

Allotment of land to Nasir Loota or any other Arab price had been vehemently denied by successive government officials, whereas chief ministers and other dignitaries were feted there by the Arab princes.

Over a dozen groups, mainly Arabs, have established their camps at various hunting sites of the district since resumption of the hunting season.