The Lahore High Court on Thursday called the summary of awarding approval to the Qatar's royal family for hunting internationally-protected houbara bustards and other migrated birds.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also issued notice for the first week of January to the foundation established for protection of houbara bustards.

The Director General Wildlife informed that due to increase in number of these birds during the last 10 days, permission for hunting 100 birds was given.

The petitioner, Naeem Sadiq, submitted that the foreign ministry issued licenses to the Qatris despite a ban on hunting of the birds.

He submitted that the federal government had issued permits to foreign dignitaries belonging to five countries of Gulf Region to hunt internationally-protected houbara bustards.

He submitted that under the law federal government could not issue these permits. He therefore asked the court to declare the hunting licenses issued to the Qatri princes as illegal and stop them from issuing such licenses in future.

-Business Recorder