Pakistan: Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned the progress report from the CustomS authorities on proceedings instituted against alleged wildlife trafficker, who was caught at Karachi Airport with 218 black-spotted turtles. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar had taken up a petition filed by non-government organisations, including World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWW-Pakistan), Pakistan Animal Welfare Society and others seeking an investigation into the smuggling of endangered species, including black-spotted turtles and tortoises and prosecution of wildlife smugglers under anti-smuggling and Customs laws.

Advocate Ghulam Haider Shaikh submitted a report on behalf of Custom authorities stating Custom authorities would prosecute the alleged wildlife trafficker under Custom Act 1969 and a show-cause notice and subsequent final notices were issued to him for his appearance before the Customs adjudicating authorities. He undertook to submit before Court the progress report along with the order that may be passed in the proceedings. After his assurance, Court adjourned the matter tillDecember 23 and directed him to submit reports on next hearing. It also extended its interim order staying the proceedings pending before a Malir’s judicial magistrate in turtle-smuggling case. Advocate Faisal Siddiqui representing the petitioners submitted smuggling of turtles and tortoises particularly black spotted turtles, declared vulnerable and endangered species had escalated in the past two years. Recently 218 fresh water black spotted turtles, which were being smuggled to Thailand were confiscated from Karachi Airport. The Sindh wildlife department registered a case against accused under the Sindh Wild Life Ordinance 1972 and produced him in Court of Malir’s judicial magistrate. However, Court later released the alleged smuggler on bail. He argued Custom authorities had confiscated travelling document of the alleged smuggler under Custom laws but it did not institute proceeding against him which was required under the Custom Act 1969. (Source : Daily Times)