Stray dogs watch from behind bars while undergoing treatment at the animal rehabilitation center in Istanbul Municipality, Türkiye, on May 27, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS
Dog culling campaigns in Pakistan by different local bodies have been constantly criticized by animal rights and welfare groups. On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) notified the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the city municipal corporation of a petition against killing of stray dogs.
The court warned the officials that an FIR would be lodged against them if they were found involved in this practice.
Witness Naveeda Asim informed the court that on October 9, she saw a vehicle containing at least 200 dead dogs near the CDA office.
Read: They request a report on stray dog control policy
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, who was hearing the case, sought detailed responses from the CDA and the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) over the incident.
The court accepted the plea of another petitioner, Neelofar, to become a party in the case seeking implementation of the stray dog population control policy framed in 2020, which aimed to vaccinate stray dogs instead of killing them.
Asim’s statement became part of the record. Both women confirmed having witnessed the truck carrying dead dogs on October 9.
Advocate Altamash Saeed, counsel for the petitioner, said the October 9 incident was a clear violation of the stray dog control policy introduced in 2020.
He informed the court that the case (Islamabad Violence Management Board versus CDA and IMC) is in line with previous legal proceedings on culling of stray dogs. This highlights the continued failure of the authorities in implementing the stray dog population control policy, he said.
Saeed said the policy was formulated in early 2020 and was developed taking into account human rights principles and scientific research. Established under the chairmanship of Dr Ghani Ikram, its aim was to manage the stray dog population through humane and scientific methods instead of culling them, he said.
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Saeed added that the policy emphasized vaccination and sterilization to humanely reduce rabies and dog bites, noting that Islam prohibits killing animals without cause.
He said the petitioners had previously obtained justice when both the CDA and the IMC acknowledged the allegations in an earlier hearing.
Despite clear directives, Saeed argued, the CDA and IMC continue to capture and shoot stray dogs, in violation of both policy and court orders.
The court sought written responses from both local agencies regarding the October 9 incident and adjourned the hearing.
