ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has put an end to killing, poisoning, and culling stray dogs in the federal capital by issuing a permanent ban and asking the authorities to follow humane ways for controlling their numbers.
According to the ruling, stray dogs should be controlled by using TNR and mass vaccinations only. The court also stated that only qualified veterinary doctors can officially declare a dog rabid or incurably ill and approve euthanasia through medically authorized procedures.
Strict Implementation of Animal Welfare Mandates
Justice Somro instructed all major stakeholders of the government, namely CDA and IWMB, to strictly implement this newly drafted animal welfare policy. Moreover, the court ordered the establishment of a database system to keep record of all incidents of dog bites and vaccination campaigns. Finally, the court asked for the creation of an animal abuse registry for all cases of animal abuse in the federal capital region.
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With great concern expressed over some of the information presented in the hearing, such as pictures showing dead dogs stacked up in a CDA truck, the court pointed out that there was no legal and logical explanation for the culling of the dogs by the authorities.
“Stray and wild dogs are sentient creatures,” the court ruled. “Ruthless handling is something they can never survive. Constitutional right to life definitely includes ecology and biodiversity.”
Decrying Outdated British-Era Legal Frameworks
The judgement pointed out important legislative deficiencies since there was no consistent law in the nation for dealing with stray animals. The judge highlighted that this issue existed in Pakistan since there was only a fragmented provincial system in place. Justice Khadim Hussain Somro observed that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890 no longer meets modern animal welfare standards.
The bench has also looked into a comparative legal study of stray animals’ management from different countries, such as Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. The court pointed out that these countries have been able to move towards humane urban wildlife management, thus setting an example for Pakistan.
High Court Orders Transparency in Neutering Costs
In the course of the hearing, the relevant authorities made it clear to the court that the entire process of humane sterilization and vaccination was costing them PKR 19,000 per dog. The IHC subsequently ordered authorities to ensure complete financial and operational transparency at the stray dog population control center in Islamabad’s Tarlai area.
“The court ruling highlighted Islamic values and strongly condemned cruelty against animals, stating that Islam and Islamic Shariah reject all forms of animal abuse.” It means that Muslims should respect the animals as per the Quran and Sunnah.
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