Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) while accusing the Capital Development of Authority (CDA) of illegally taking over its information centres located on Trail-5 & 6 and moved a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) to order the federal government and the CDA immediately vacate the IWMB information centre.
The IWMB through Advocate UmerIjazGilani has requested the apex court to direct the respondents namely CDA, Ministry of Climate Change, the chief commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the inspector general police (ICT) to collaborate with the IWMB in the protection, preservation, conservation and management of wildlife as well as preservation, conservation and management of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) rather than occupying its land or properties.
These centres and an animal sanctuary are maintained by the wildlife management board in the foothills of the Margalla Hills.
The petitioner has also requested the apex to order the IGP to ensure proper investigation into a complaint filed by the board’s staff against those who seized the information centres on Trail 5 and 6 on Feb 15.
The respondents should also be directed to fulfill their duties and ensure strict compliance with the laws related to the environment and the wildlife and inquire into the fate of “The Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2023” – a bill moved by the government which was approved by both houses of parliament but has since mysteriously disappeared.
“The CDA had been repeatedly taking illegal actions making it virtually impossible for the board to continue performing its core duties. It has become impossible for the board to focus on conservation and preservation of the national park and wildlife,” says the petition.
It was on Feb 15, 2024 when 50 to 60 CDA workers and officers stormed the visitors information centres located at Trail 5 and Trail 6 and the field office in Kalinjher.
According to the petition, they had come without any prior notice or intimation and took over the centres. In the petition, it has been alleged that the CDA damaged the locks, broke in and forcefully dispossessed the staff.
They also threw away all the belongings of the board, including display screens outside the building.
Terming this action by the CDA as a blatant act of harassment and usurpation the petition says the board raised the matter with the CDA high-ups but no heed was paid to it.
The CDA’s takeover of the information centres is illegal because it was done without any notice and any justification, the petition adds. Furthermore, these centres and properties were not built by CDA, to begin with.
They were built by the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit organization, and the board had made considerable investment in their maintenance since taking them over.
The Supreme Court is likely to take up the petition for hearing on Monday (today).
