A three-member bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday requested the Chief Justice to constitute a larger bench to hear the Federation's review petition filed against the judgement of the apex court banning the hunting of Houbara bustard in Pakistan.
The bench led by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar resumed the hearing of the Federation's review petition, ruling that two fresh petitions have been filed in the matter so the matter is being referred to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for the formation of a larger bench. After referring the matter to the Chief Justice the bench issued notices to the respondents in response to fresh petitions.
On August 19, a three-member bench of the then Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja had banned the hunting of migratory bird Houbara bustard in Pakistan after cancelling the licenses/permits granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Gulf states' Sheikhs.
Announcing the judgement in response to a petition of Aamir Zahorul Haq in the matter, the apex court had declared permits for hunting of Houbara Bustards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foreign dignitaries and locals of no legal effect. Later on, the federation and provinces filed a review petition filed against its verdict.
Two petitions have been filed by Mian Imtiaz Ahmed, Sheikh Fiazud Din and Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan Leghari, son of former President of Pakistan and others making Federation of Pakistan, through Secretary Ministry of Environment and four provincial secretaries of Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife as respondents. Filing the pleas through Barrister Ali Zafar, the petitioners' counsel, urged the court to issue directives to the respondents to take all necessary steps to stop any illegal hunting and poaching of Houbara bustard in Pakistan.
Zafar also requested the court to declare that the Federal government along with the government of Punjab has the authority to grant licenses and permits for the hunting of Houbara bustard strictly keeping in view the concept of sustainable hunting and declare and determine that Houbara Bustard is not an endangered wild animal on the verge of extinction based on their annual surveys. The hearing of case was adjourned till the third week of December.