LAKKI MARWAT: The wildlife department foiled a bid to smuggle precious birds here on Monday by arresting two people with eagle and partridges.

An official told Dawn that divisional forest officer (wildlife) Khan Malook Khan got a tip-off about a birds’ smuggling attempt and was quick to form a special team to foil it.

He said the team headed by range officer Mir Aslam Khan reached Wanda Banochi checkpost on the Indus Highway near Darra Pezu and began checking suspected vehicles.

The official said the team seized a golden eagle and 40 red legged partridges in passenger vehicles entering the district from DI Khan.

He said the birds were being smuggled to Bannu from Balochistan due to high demand.

The official said people kept red legged partridges at home for good fortune, while partridges fetched good price in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts.

He said the seized birds were shifted to enclosures at the local wildlife facilities, while the smugglers were booked under the Wildlife and Biodiversity Act.

HELD: The police on Monday arrested four loan sharks in Naurang and Pezu towns of Lakki Marwat district.

An official of the administration said the action was taken on the orders of DPO Abdul Hai over complaints about high interest on loans.

He said Hamidullah, Tawahis Khan, Taj Din and Hamidullah were held in separate raids before the police registered separate cases against them.

The official said the crackdown on the people offering loans at extremely high interest rate would be extended to other parts of the district.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2019