Wildlife dept red faced: ex-minister says 'rumours' aimed to malign him

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Though the former KPK minister for environment and forest on Thursday denied reports that he had fired at a markhor in Chitral, the incident has left the wildlife department red faced, exposing its criminal negligence in protecting the endangered animal. Talking to ChitralToday on phone from Peshawar, Ibrar Hussain, the former minister, said the ‘rumours’ to shoot at the markhor were spread to malign him politically. When ChitralToday contacted him on phone and asked about the allegation, he said, “I was well aware of my responsibilities and this was the reason I was given the portfolio of forest and environment. My role was no different than that of a guardian of the fast depleting jungle and wildlife at the hands of unscrupulous elements” With the provincial minister no more in the office after his party parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led provincial government, the local wildlife department had awakened from the deep slumber, accusing him of shooting at the rare species during his visit to Chitral in the summer. Mr Ibrar claimed that as a minister his job was to protect the wildlife and the environment. He said chief minister Pervez Khattak had also taken up the matter with him when the rumours spread, adding after a thorough probe into the matter a report was submitted to the chief minister. “The chief minister telephoned me when I was in Chitral as some people had complained to him that I was behind the incident but after the investigation they were unable to prove the allegation,” he maintained. To a question about allegedly snatching a police rifle from a police constable and firing at the markhor, he said people who talked like this must know that the police had to keep the record of each and every bullet they fire. He claimed that he had gone to the conservatory to check poaching after being informed about such an illegal activity there.]]>