For the second time this season, the country’s customs authorities have seized prized hunting falcons owned by a member of the Qatari royal family. The Pakistan Customs officials in Karachi confiscated 11 birds that were being transported to Sindh for hunting the endangered Houbara bustard without correct documentation. The birds were sent through cargo in a Qatar Airways flight and had landed at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi on Saturday. Though the customs officials had seized the birds Saturday evening, the media was not informed about the development. Often the customs authorities confiscate illegal consignments but hide them from the media. Later, if they are able to ‘iron out a deal’ with owners of such consignments, the shipments are released. But if the deal fails to go through, the Pakistan Customs’ spokesperson releases a press statement, disclosing the details of the consignment.
The same happened this time. When nobody from the Qatari royal family approached the customs officials for two days, the precious birds were handed over to the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) on Monday. “We seized the hunting falcons on Saturday, but did not tell the media as it is a routine activity,” Customs Department spokesman Qamaruddin Thalo told Pakistan Today. “We did not hide [the news] from the media.” SWD District Game Warden Shahbuddin Burfat, and game inspectors Mumtaz and Shaukat received the birds from the customs authorities on Monday evening. Prized status symbols in the region, falcons are used across the Middle East for hunting. Every year, many Arab dignitaries, rush to different areas in Pakistan, especially Sindh and Punjab, with their falcons to hunt the prized Houbara bustard – which arrives in Pakistan every year along with other migratory birds.
good one but not a complete story.
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