Question mark over composition of body to probe death of golden tabby tiger at zoo.

KARACHI -- Experts raised concerns over the composition of a committee set up by the Karachi Metropolitan CorporAation (KMC) to hold an inquiry into the death of a golden tabby tiger at Karachi Zoo and the language used in its notification saying the body lacked credibility, it emerged on Sunday.

They also criticised the notification's language and its content as, according to them, it not only reflected ignorance but also showed a lack of seriousness on part of KMC authorities.

According to a notification dated March 3, 'The competent authority, i.e. the Administrator, KMC, is pleased to constitute an investigation and enquiry committee comprising the following members to conduct an inquiry into the death of a lion in Karachi zoo, recreation department, KMC, and to submit the report within 15 days before the competent authority.'

The committee members are: Rashid Nizam, BPS-19 officer at KMC (chairman), Dr Farhan Issani, senior veterinary officer at the livestock department, Dr Zulfiqar Odho, in charge of the Richmond Crawford Hospital, Dr Taj Muhammad, deputy director, veterinary services at KMC and Dr Muhammad Mansoor Qazi, (co-opt member)) former senior director zoo, Safari and recreation at KMC.

Five-member committee has no representation from wildlife dept; autopsy report of the big cat yet to be made public

However, the experts pointed out that a major mistake in the notification was that it sought investigation into the death of a lion instead of a golden tabby tiger.

'The recent death of a zoo tiger was widely covered in the media and it's surprising that officials are so negligent in releasing the notification that they couldn't even mention the specific species. Such communique requires approval at multiple levels,' said an expert.

Sources said that there should have been specific terms of reference (ToRs), or instruction, in the notification for the members who had been assigned the investigation, but, there was none.

The experts also questioned the composition of the committee that comprised only one senior zoo expert.

'Excluding Dr Mansoor Qazi, who had retired as KMC's senior director Zoo and Safari a few months back, rest are associated with KMC's veterinary services which solely deal with livestock. Moreover, the committee is headed by a completely irrelevant person, though he has a good reputation as a finance director,' an official said.

The sources...