A shutter-down strike was observed in Rahim Yar Khan on the call of Anjuman-e-Tajran against ban on hunting of Houbara Bustard in Pakistan.
The protesters closed their shops and demanded to lift the ban on the hunting.
They said the ban would not only affect Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) relations but also the economy of the country. They stated that barring Arab royals from hunting Houbara Bustard would pave way for them to move towards India.
The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on Houbara Bustard hunt on August 18. The federal and provincial governments have submitted nine applications in the SC for review of the decision.
The Foreign Ministry had earlier adopted a stance against the decision, stating that a ban on the hunt will have detrimental effects on the relations with Gulf countries.
Earlier, residents of Bhawalpur’s Yazman staged a protest rally for the same cause. The protesters demanded to issue legal license to the Arab royals to hunt in the country as there was a provision in the law that allows birds’ hunting under specific guidelines.
The government machinery is under immense pressure to stop Arab royals from hunting as the smugglers have come up with new ways to deport the rare Houbara Bustard out of the country for keeping their business afloat.
