LAHORE: Issuance of fresh permits to Saudi and Qatari dignitaries for hunting houbara bustard in Punjab and Balochistan has been challenged before the Lahore High Court.

Social worker Naeem Sadiq filed a writ petition through Advocate Sardar Kalim Ilyas pleading that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued permits violating ban on the hunting of protected birds.

The petitioner contends that the government has been misinterpreting a judgement of the SC to issue the hunting permits. He says the apex court did not allow hunting of the protected birds. He points out that the LHC also suspended such hunting permits previously issued to the foreign dignitaries. He asked the court to set aside the hunting permits issued to Saudi and Qatari princes for being unlawful.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2016