RAHIM YAR KHAN: A controversy erupted after the deputy commissioner, along with an influential businessman and 24 guests, allegedly violated ban on hunting in Cholistan.

The DC and his guests escaped after hunting 14 deer in Cholistan (desert) on Sunday, alleged the district wildlife officer (DLO).

DLO Asim Kamran in a video message on social media said DC Ali Shahzad had requested him that he wanted to have dinner after desert safari with guests on Saturday night and he (Kamran) allowed on the condition that he could not be allowed to involve in any hunting activity.

The DC also contacted Assistant Director Wildlife Bahawalpur Ali Usman Bukhari about the dinner in the desert. Mr Kamran said that on Saturday night initially influential businessman Ahmed Shah Hamdani with some guests arrived at the wildlife check post near Sorhian by official vehicles and said the DC and other guests would arrive after some time.

He quoted Mr Hamdani as having said that they were going for a dinner at Ahmed Jan’s residence at Dabbianwala in Cholistan. Later, the DC with some guests also entered Cholistan with two vehicles of his squad.

Mr Kamran said that after few hours his subordinates informed him that all the vehicles of DC and Hamdani had changed their track and were going to Kharbara area near Tokenwala wildlife check post which is core habitat of Chinkara deer. Then wildlife staff chased them at 11.35pm before they hunted almost 12 to 14 deer.

The influential people beat game warden Zahid Farooq Ranjha who stopped them near Sorhian check post. Later, he (Mr Kamran) himself on his official vehicle chased the illegal hunters and DC’s black vehicle hit his vehicle from the rear side.

Mr Kamran said he immediately called 15 police and informed the officials about the matter. He said he would frame charges against the illegal hunters.

A source told this correspondent that Mr Hamdani invited the DC and his guests on the pretext of dinner because he was interested in getting a prime location petrol pump at DC Office Chowk and its auction was scheduled to be held on Monday (today).

Meanwhile, the DC through a press release of the Deputy Director Public Relations said he went to Cholistan for routine visit to ensure measures to eliminate locusts. He said he informed the departments concerned about his visit well in time and he took dinner of all officers with him.

He denied illegal hunting in Cholistan and claimed that when a vehicle stopped the luggage vehicle of DC squad at Sunny Bridge, the driver thought a gang of robbers had stopped him. He said had the DC entered Cholistan illegally, his squad would have been stopped by the Rangers or police.

On the other hand, PTI leader Rana Raheel at a hurriedly called press conference at the District Press Club said Hamdani wanted to influence the auction of petrol pumps at prime locations. He said the DC visited Cholistan with Hamdani a day before the auction.

An impartial inquiry would be initiated soon so that people of Rahim Yar Khan could see the real face of the district administration, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020