In a significant development in the case regarding the killing and culling of stray dogs in Islamabad, the Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority to vaccinate and care for the animals instead of killing them.
Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the city’s municipal corporation after a witness informed the court that he had seen a vehicle containing around 200 dead dogs near the CDA office on October 9.
The court had earlier warned the officials that a First Information Report (FIR) would be lodged against them if they were found involved in such practices.
In its written order, the IHC stated, “The CDA further directs that stray dogs be vaccinated and cared for as per policy. If any evidence has been found regarding killing of dogs, an FIR will be registered against them.”
The head of the CDA municipal administration, Dr. Anam Fatima, has been summoned to appear in court to explain the alleged murders.
Read: IHC warns CDA and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation over dog sacrifice
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a written directive directing the CDA to implement the stray dog management policy 2020, which promotes humane and scientific methods to control the stray dog population instead of culling them.
An eyewitness, Dr. Ghani Ikram, appeared in court and testified that he had personally observed several dead dogs lying in a truck driven by a CDA employee. He added that the driver fled the scene after being approached.
The petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Altamash Saeed, informed the court that the respondents had claimed that they were spending Rs 19,000 per dog on the TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate and release) process. However, he said photographic evidence suggested they were killing the animals and transporting their bodies in a truck owned by the CDA.
The case has been adjourned until October 27.
