Case registered over slaughter of deer in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has submitted a formal request to the local police station to initiate legal proceedings against the illegal slaughter of a barking deer in Margalla Hills National Park.

Following this, a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Kohsar Police Station.

Taking notice of a report aired by Aaj News, the IWMB moved swiftly to file a legal complaint under the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act.

According to the Board’s spokesperson, the barking deer is a protected species under Schedule I of the Act.

The complaint cites violations of Sections 12.4(a) and 16.1(a) of the Nature Act 2024, under which offenders may face a fine of up to PKR 1 million and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

The spokesperson further stated that under Section 23 of the Act, even deceased wildlife is considered the property of the federal government.

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The FIR has been registered against Bashir Abbasi, Zain Abbasi, and other unidentified individuals. Both named suspects are residents of Gokeena village, which lies within the Margalla Hills region.

Assistant Director Ayesha Shehzad of IWMB filed the FIR, stating that the accused illegally slaughtered a rare barking deer and called for the recovery of the animal’s remains, including its hide and skull.

The FIR includes charges under Sections A-4/12 and A-16, which carry penalties of up to one year in prison, a fine of PKR 1 million, or both. Additionally, Section 379 of the Pakistan Penal Code—pertaining to theft—has also been invoked, carrying a potential sentence of up to three years in prison.