IHC to resume contempt proceedings against Marghazar Zoo officials.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court will resume contempt of court proceedings against director and deputy director of Marghazar Zoo for delaying implementation of its order about proper care of animals in the zoo.

A single bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah will conduct hearing of the matter in which it had previously issued contempt of court notices to director and deputy director of Marghazar Zoo.

The IHC bench had directed the zoo administration to save the animals from any harm and address the adverse conditions in the zoo.

In compliance with the court order, secretary Ministry of Climate Change had submitted a detailed report. It appeared from the facts narrated in the report that, prima facie, Rana Tahir, Director Zoo and Dr Bilal Khilji, Deputy Director had made attempts to delay implementation of the court's interim order dated 05-07-2019 and thereby disobeyed or disregarded it.

Preliminary replies were submitted by both the respondents/contemnors which have not been found to be satisfactory, the court noted.

The court order said that in light of the detailed report submitted by the Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Rana Tahir and Dr Bilal Khilji are hereby proceeded against under contempt of court ordinance 2003 by serving on them respective show...