Lion, lioness deaths: IHC to initiate contempt proceedings against Zartaj Gul, Amin Aslam
Last updated on: 03 August,2020 12:09 pm
A lion and a lioness died at Islamabad's Marghazar Zoo.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Following the deaths of a lion and a lioness at the Marghazar Zoo, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday decided to launch contempt of court proceedings against Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam.
The IHC has summoned names of all persons responsible for the deaths of the animals and ordered the climate change secretary and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) chairman to appear before it on Tuesday.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said in his remarks that how will those public representatives take care of people who cannot protect animals. The counsel told Justice Athar Minallah that the lion and lioness were being shifted to Lahore and services of professionals were acquired in this regard.
The IHC chief justice said, “The court had determined the responsible persons if any harm is done to any animal. The federal government submitted a notification after forming a board to shift the animals.
“Climate change minister, secretary, SAPM on climate change and parliamentary secretary were all part of the board but no one is willing to take the responsibility now.”
The deputy attorney general told the court that a representative of the climate change ministry is conducting inquiry, to which Juctice Athar Minallah remarked that will he conduct inquiry against own ministry. Do you think the court decision is a joke, the IHC chief justice asked.
It is pertinent here to mention that the lioness died at Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo upon arrival at a lion breeding sanctuary. The lion also died afterwards.