KARACHI: The Anti-Corruption department has started an investigation into the activities of Karachi Zoo and Safari Park.
Karachi Zoo’s director, accounts officer, tender clerk, accountant, and cashier have been told to appear in court with the records of all the animals alive and dead in the zoo.
The Anti-corruption department has also asked for the records of the senior director, director, and deputy directors. As well as details of the budget and audit, all purchase records, and details of the auction of goods so far.
The zoo administration has also been asked to present details of all the bills, vouchers, and bank accounts of the zoo since 2022.
Details of monthly income and expenses in the zoo since 2022, as well as records of vendors and contractors and payments, and details of veterinary doctors posted at the zoo, have also been sought.
The challans and deposit submitted to the government treasury by the zoo administration since 2022, details of the contractors’ dues, and all records of the director safari park will be presented on May 9, 2023.
An inquiry has been initiated into complaints of irregularities in government funds in the Safari Park. Director Safari Park has been asked for the lock book, monthly account file, payroll book, entry fee, and parking fee records.
Details of the purchase of medicines and food from safari park management, details of income from animal riding, safari coach vouchers, and other sources of safari park management have also been sought.
A petition was filed in the court to register a case against the Administrator Karachi and the Director of Karachi Zoo, in which the petitioner stated that he came to know about the elephant’s death from the media.
The petitioner said that Noor Jahan died due to criminal negligence and that administrator Karachi, the Karachi Zoo director, and other employees were involved in this negligence.
The petition said that many animals have died due to negligence in the past and requested that SHO Garden police record the statement of the petitioner and register a case.
On May 3, a local court in Karachi reserved its verdict on the petition filed against the death of the Karachi Zoo elephant, Noor Jehan, after the completion of arguments by the lawyers of the parties, which were to be pronounced on May 5.
The petitioner, Sindh High Court advocate Imran Nazir, and KMC’s lawyer appeared in the court.
The public prosecutor said that the post-mortem report of Elephant Noor Jahan has not yet been received, to which the court remarked that buy now, Noor Jehan’s meat has been cut and sold.
On May 5, the district and sessions court transferred the application for registration of a case against the death of Noor Jehan to the Additional Sessions Court No. 8 and adjourned it till May 6.
The court asked KMC’s lawyer where the post-mortem report was, to which the lawyer replied that they have not yet received the post-mortem report. The court replied that at least the preliminary report should be submitted.
The court remarked that you have sent the elephant’s organs to Lahore after conducting the post-mortem, the doctor must have said something, tell us what the doctors who conducted the post-mortem said.
Responding to the court’s remarks, KMC’s lawyer said, “I say that the FIR is not justified, the application should be rejected if a camel dies in the desert, will a case be registered against the chief minister?”
The court said that this case is not the same, there should be an inquiry into the number of employees at the Karachi Zoo.
The court expressed displeasure and asked the lawyer to present a report. Adding that there must be a concrete reason for Noor Jehan’s death.
The petitioner said that the elephant died due to criminal negligence of the zoo administration, the elephant could not even stand on its legs, and an FIR should be registered.
The court expressed displeasure over the petitioner and said that if there was any witness, he would have filed an FIR.
On Saturday, May 6th, the additional district and sessions court heard the case regarding a petition seeking registration of a case against the death of Karachi Zoo elephant Noor Jahan and gave both parties a day’s time to prepare.
The lawyer sought time from the court to prepare, the court gave a day’s time to all the parties and adjourned the hearing till May 8.
