IHC questions mass dog killings, warns it violates PPC | The Express Tribune

The Islamabad High Court, on Monday, heard the case concerning the alleged culling of stray dogs in the federal capital, as the Capital Development Authority and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad submitted their framework reports to the court.

The case stems from an incident on October 9, when eyewitnesses reported seeing a Capital Development Authority (CDA) vehicle transporting around 200 dead dogs near the authority’s office. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had put the CDA and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on notice, warning that an FIR would be filed if officials were found involved.

Read: IHC orders FIRs overstray dog culling

The hearing was attended by petitioner’s lawyer Altamash Saeed, CDA counsel Shahryar Tariq, and MCI counsel Khalid Mahmood.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, presiding over the hearing, observed that the issue must be approached comprehensively, taking into account both animal welfare and public safety concerns. He stressed the need “to conclude the matter after a detailed hearing.”

During proceedings, the court revisited the viral October 9 video showing dozens of dead dogs in a CDA sanitation vehicle. Justice Soomro remarked, “An FIR will be registered against the driver. When the case proceeds, he will reveal on whose orders this happened.”

CDA counsel Shahryar Tariq confirmed the truck belonged to the Sanitation Department and that the deceased dogs were collected from multiple sectors. He maintained that the sanitation staff only removed carcasses, adding, “Some dogs were reportedly killed by citizens or run over by vehicles.”

Tariq also noted that 2,800 dog bite cases were reported at PIMS Hospital between January and September, urging the court to consider the broader context rather than focusing solely on welfare.

Justice Soomro questioned the killings, saying, “If each dog costs Rs19,000, what is the need to kill them? No one can kill so many dogs at once. We will examine this thoroughly.” He reiterated that killing animals is punishable under the Pakistan Penal Code and emphasized that the mass deaths need explanation.

Read More: IHC orders CDA to vaccinate, not kill, stray dogs in Islamabad

The judge added, “This is the federal capital — if even here petitions are being filed for animal rights, that is quite telling.”

An important development was the presence of Pakistan Republic Party leader Reham Khan, who attended the hearing. “Our goal is not to have anyone prosecuted,” she said. “We only want humane stray dog management enforced. We receive no funding and are not affiliated with any NGO.”

Even in one of the earlier hearings, Justice Soomro directed the authorities to vaccinate and care for stray dogs instead of culling them, citing the 2020 Stray Dog Management Policy, which promotes humane population control through trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release (TNVR) methods.

The court directed the petitioner’s counsel to submit written suggestions on the CDA and MCI framework reports and adjourned the case, with the next hearing to be announced in a written order.