KARACHI: A sessions court has acquitted two accused of the charges of illegally possessing 50 falcons worth around Rs200 million.

The court also ordered the release of the birds to both the men –– Sardar Mohammad Aslam Gabol and Abdul Rasheed –– being their lawful owners.

The Customs department had claimed to have arrested them, seizing 75 falcons and houbara bustards, saying the endangered birds were meant to be smuggled to the Gulf.

The suspects were booked under the provisions of the Customs and wildlife laws.

Additional district and sessions judge (South) Shahid Ali Memon recently pronounced the verdict which was reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge wrote in the judgment that since it has been held that the prosecution miserably failed to prove its case against the accused persons beyond any shadow of a doubt, “Therefore, under such circumstances, the accused persons are entitled to having benefit of such doubt as of their right and not mercy.”

The judge further ruled that “the case property viz 50 falcons shall be returned to accused persons being their lawful owners while one taloor shall be released in the natural habitat in accordance with the law and care after expiry of appeal period.”

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021