Suspected booked for poaching of rare beam deer in Islamabad

A case has been registered at the Kohsar police station after the illegal killing of a beaming deer in Margalla Hills, officials said on Saturday.

The suspects named in FIR include Bashir Abbasi and Zain Abbasi, residents of Gokina Village, located in the Margalla Hills area. The case was filed on the complaint of Ayesha Shehzad, assistant director of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board.

According to the complaint, the defendant illegally slaughtered a rare deer tart known as The Barking Deer. Authorities have regained the residue of the animal, including its skin and skull, as evidence.

The case was registered under sections A-4/12 and A-16 at the Kohsar police station. These sections have sanctions that may include a fine of up to RS10 million, prison for up to one year or both. In addition, section 379 has been invoked, which relates to theft and has a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

The incident had previously drawn attention from the federal minister of climate change, Musadik Malik, who noticed and ordered an immediate investigation into the case.

The minister condemned the killing that emerged after a video showing the slaughter circulating on social media. He emphasized that hunting and killing wildlife in protected areas is a serious violation of environmental legislation and will not be tolerated.

Musadik Malik ordered the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report at the earliest.

He also emphasized the government’s obligation to protect wildlife and ensure strict enforcement of conservation laws across the country.