RS 5,000 too MUCH? – President Zardari’s friend flouts wildlife laws

KARACHI – Provincial conservator Hussain Bux Bhaagat was transferred from Karachi to Sukkur and the law that asks for a fee of Rs 5000 for possessing a falcon was amended when President Asif Zardari’s Arab friend, carrying two falcons, was stopped at the Karachi airport and asked for documents and fee slips, sources told Pakistan Today.
Arif al Zarooni, emissary of Lieutenant General Sheikh Ahmed and the brother of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Rashid al Maktoum was stopped at the Jinnah International Airport for standard checking and was asked for legal permit and a receipt of payment of Rs 5000 for the two falcons he was carrying. Zarooni made a phone call and the staffers were immediately asked to leave the airport. On the same day on the directive of the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Provincial Minister for Wildlife Daya Ram Essrani transferred provincial wildlife conservator Hussain Bux Bhaagat from Karachi to Sukkur.
Under President Asif Ali Zardari’s directive Rule 13 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Act 1972 was also amended to omit foreign falconers from paying the fee or having legal documents for possession of falcons.
Sindh Wildlife Secretary Mushtaq Ali Memon issued a notification and refused to issue any statement.
“I cannot comment on this issue,” he said before slamming the phone in the reporter’s face. Essrani also refused to comment on the issue.
Sindh Wildlife department earns more than Rs 1 million every year from the possession fees and issuance of license for falcons. Arab princes come with their falcons to Pakistan to hunt the endangered Houbara Bustard, locally known as tiloor, which was declared an endangered species internationally in 1912. Ban was imposed on hunting this bird in Pakistan in 1972.
In 2010 the federal government issued 27 licenses to various Arab monarchs, princes and sheikhs to come and hunt the bird in Bahawalnagar, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang, Rajanpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Khairpur, Zhob, Ormara, Gwadar, Sibi, Pasni, Panjgur, Nushki, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Chaghai, Washuk, Khuzdar and Lasbela.
The Sindh Wildlife Protection Act 1972 ensures the safety of different species of the birds, reptiles, dolphins and other wildlife and such amendments will not only cost the department financially, but will also remove the little check and balance that was in place before.