As the economic situation in Pakistan worsens, the Pakistani government has again given permission to rich Arabs to hunt the critically endangered and globally protected Houbara bustard bird.
Almost every year, rich Arabs travel to Pakistan to hunt these endangered species as this bird migrates south to spend the winter in Pakistan and this year, the hunters include the UAE president, Qatar’s prime minister, and Bahrain’s monarch.
As per a news report published in the Dawn newspaper, the Pakistani government has invited 14 Arab dignitaries and the Sindh province has granted permission to kill this globally endangered bird species as the meat when consumed is considered an aphrodisiac and sex power.
As per reports, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent the “recommendations” for Falconry Season 2021-2022 (excluding protected areas) to the Sindh government, along with a request to provide appropriate licences in compliance with the country’s wildlife legislation.
Each year, rich Saudi oil Sheik would pay lots of money in order to hunt these birds but there is absolutely no evidence that the money earned from this huting excursion will have any impact on Pakistan’s economy
However, this year’s hunt is under a cloud after the assassination of Nazim Jokhio, a journalist from Karachi who dared to broadcast recordings of Arab dignitaries hunting Houbara bustards.
A post-mortem was conducted by the additional police surgeon at Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and Dr Summaiya Syed said, after the examination was done on Nazim Jokhio body, doctors found “severe torture marks” all over the body.
Nazim Jokhiyo said in a video posted online a few hours before his death said, “I am not scared. I am getting threats and I will not apologise,”.
(The story was first published on The Commune. Republished with permission)
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra