KARACHI: The Customs Department will set free nine falcons on Thursday morning, as these were illegally imported into the country and were seized by the Model Customs Collectorate Preventive.
The decision to free the birds was taken after Sindh High Court ruled that the falcons in the custody of Customs Department may be dealt with by the department in consultation with the Sindh Wild Life Department in accordance with law.
As per details, the falcons were seized in Karachi from the possession of one Saeed Ahmed who could not produce legal documents to substantiate the legal import and lawful possession of 11 falcons and a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep in which the birds were being transported.
Though, he produced a carry/possession permit book issued by Sindh Wildlife Department Karachi to a UAE national Demaithan Sowaidan Saeed Hilal showing authorization to Saeed Ahmed to carry 10 live falcons of the above mentioned UAE national for training purpose.
Saeed Ahmed had filed the petition before the Court against the seizure of the falcons. The Sindh High Court, however, refused to accept that locus standi in the matter.
Moreover, the SHC found contradictions between the submission of the petitioner’s counsel and the undertaking of UAE national to whom the Sindh Wildlife Department had issued the possession permit.
The petitioner’s counsel had submitted that the birds were imported while Demaithan Sowaidan Saeed Hilal in his undertaking stated that the birds were gifted to him in Pakistan for falconry.
In view of the fact that the live falcons are used to natural wild environment and vulnerable to contagious, viral infections and diseases and two of the birds had already demised during the due course, the customs department would free the birds on Thursday morning.