Lahore: A Pakistani court on Friday sought responses from the PML-N and wildlife and environment authorities by June 21 over the alleged violation of laws using endangered white tigers during the recent poll campaign.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court asked the PML-N and the wildlife and environment departments of Punjab province to submit their responses by June 21.
The court issued the notices in response to a petition filed by rights activist Faryal Gohar and the World Wildlife Fund. The tiger is the election symbol of the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which is set to form the new governments at the centre and in Punjab. Several tigers, lions and a white tiger had been used extensively in the party’s campaign for the May 11 general election.
Animal rights activists have been up in arms following reports that a white tiger died because of exhaustion and prolonged exposure to heat during the campaign.
The animal’s owner, however, showed the media a white tiger and claimed the big cat was alive and well. Rights activists subsequently established the fact that the man owned two white tigers. They have called for a scientific probe to get to the bottom of the matter. Gohar said in her petition that the PML-N put the lives of tigers in danger by taking them to its election rallies.
“Action should be taken not only against the PML-N leadership but also officials of the wildlife and environment departments for allowing the PML-N to take the endangered animal along,” she said.
The High Court has sought a detailed response from authorities on the number of licenses issued in the past five years for importing endangered animals. (PTI)