In a significant development in the case involving the culling and culling of stray dogs in Islamabad, the Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority to vaccinate and treat the animals rather than killing them.
Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the city municipality after an eyewitness informed the court that on October 9, she saw a vehicle containing around 200 dead dogs near the CDA office.
The court had earlier warned the officials that a first information report (FIR) would be filed against them if they were found involved in such practices.
In its written order, the IHC said, “CDA shall further require that stray dogs be vaccinated and taken care of as per the policy. If any evidence regarding the slaughter of dogs has been found, an FIR will be registered against them.”
CDA Municipal Administration Director Dr Anam Fatima was summoned to court to explain the alleged killings.
Read: IHC warns CDA, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation over dog slaughter
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.
An eyewitness, Dr Ghani Ikram, appeared in court and testified that he personally observed several dead dogs lying in a truck driven by a CDA employee. He added that the driver fled 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 for the TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate and release) process. However, he said photographic evidence suggested the animals were killed and their bodies transported in a truck owned by the CDA.
The case was adjourned until October 27.
