GB Legislator Rani Atiqa insisted that the meat of wild animals was easily available in the markets as illegal hunting of Markhor and other such animals continues unabatedly in the region.
“The wildlife department says there is no illegal hunting but I challenge this statement,” Atiqa said at the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly during proceedings chaired by Deputy Speaker Jafarullah Khan on Friday. “Illegal hunting continues and meat is being sold openly, right under the nose of the wildlife department officials.”
She also criticised the tourism department for not updating the website. “The information should’ve been uploaded by now –officials just waste time.”
Referring to her statement about hunting, Atiqa added she has done her job and it was up to the relevant officials to go after the criminals.
Rebutting her statement, Minister for Forests and Wildlife Abdul Wakeel denied there was illegal hunting in the region. “The lawmaker [Atiqa] should provide us with evidence and we will send the culprits to jail as we have done in a couple of cases.”
Read : 4 held for poaching critically endangered markhor
However, lawmaker Shah Baig turned the tables on the minister, accusing him of hunting two markhors with one licence.
“This man isn’t going to take action against criminals as he himself is involved in illegal hunting,” Baig said as lawmakers burst into laughter. “Recently he killed two markhors and paid the fee for just one.”
Wakeel rebutted the accusation and said he duly paid the fee before hunting. “You can check the documents if you want to.”
The deputy speaker said, “The law is equal for all and every individual must abide by it to avoid legal action.”
Markhor’s hunting fee stands at $67,500 for international hunters in G-B. This year the G-B government auctioned hunting permits for four markhors, 60 ibexes and eight blue sheep. Besides markhors, hunting fee for Himalayan blue sheep and ibexes have been fixed as $8,800 and $3,000, respectively.
