In a significant development in the case concerning the killing and culling of stray dogs in Islamabad, the Islamabad High Court has directed the Capital Development Authority to vaccinate and care for the animals rather than kill them.
Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the city’s municipal corporation after an eyewitness informed the court that on 9 October she had seen a vehicle containing around 200 dead dogs near the CDA office.
The court had earlier warned 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 stated: “CDA is further directed that the stray dogs should be vaccinated and taken care of as per policy. If any evidence in respect of the killing of dogs has been found, an FIR shall be registered against them”.
The Director of Municipal Administration at the CDA, Dr Anam Fatima, has been summoned to appear before the court to explain the alleged killings.
Read: IHC puts CDA, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation on notice over dog culling
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the written directive instructing the CDA to implement the 2020 stray dog management policy, which promotes humane and scientific methods for controlling the stray dog population instead of culling.
An eyewitness, Dr Ghani Ikram, appeared before the court and stated 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 upon being approached.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Advocate Altamash Saeed, informed the court that the respondents had claimed they were spending Rs19,000 per dog on the TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate and release) process. However, he said photographic evidence suggested that the animals were being killed and their bodies transported in a CDA-owned truck.
The case has been adjourned until October 27.
