Dissolution of Islamabad wildlife board sparks controversy

ISLAMABAD: The government’s decision to dissolve the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and replace its independent members with bureaucrats has sparked controversy, especially among environmentalists and former officials.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination issued a notification on Friday announcing the formation of a new board, which will consist of senior government officials instead of independent environmental experts.

The new board will include members such as the ministry’s secretary, joint secretary for administration and development, the environment member of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), a high-ranking officer nominated by Islamabad’s mayor, and the deputy commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change Aisha Humera Chaudhry has been appointed as the interim chairperson until the board’s final structure is decided.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Rina Saeed Khan, the former IWMB chairperson.

Khan described the move as a violation of a Supreme Court ruling, which had mandated the board’s independence from government control.

She expressed concern over the potential for bureaucratic influence, calling the change “regulatory capture.”

IWMB and Monal

Established in 1995 with the primary aim of safeguarding the Margalla Hills and its associated wildlife, the IWMB has been dissolved under the “Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024” which was passed on 27th August 2024.

The board has been facing multifaceted challenges especially from CDA, interior, and climate change ministries. Its chairman, Rina Saeed Khan, was being scrutinized especially after the apex court’s orders to demolish Monal restaurant in the Margalla Hills.

After this decision, she was removed from the position of IWMB chairperson, as the prime minister had directed to transfer the board to the interior ministry.

This move was challenged in the Supreme Court, which noted it as a mala fide act as the notification was issued by the Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, brother of the owner of Monal.

However, the efforts to remove Rina and destruct the board remained continue.

Rina had called the IWMB’s transfer “unfortunate”.

“Our only crime is implementing the Supreme Court’s orders regarding Monal’s demolition. The Act was intended to strengthen the board, not weaken it. Certain lobbies are determined to see us fail.

“The bureaucrats in the Ministry of Climate Change are trying to use a most twisted interpretation of the Wildlife Act. The Act was passed by the parliament for the very opposite purpose: to strengthen the institution of the board, not to weaken it.”

What does the government say?

After the controversial dissolution of the IWMB, a spokesperson for the ministry of climate change told APP that the Ministry of Law and Justice Division was consulted on the legal status of the previous IWMB, which, according to their response, had become defunct following the revision of the law. Consequently, the Federal Government was required to appoint new members under the revised act.

He said the cabinet has approved the reconstitution of the IWMB and applications for filling the post of non-ex-officio members have been solicited through public advertisement published in national newspapers.

As far as appointment of new chairperson of the new board is concerned, the Secretary of MoCC&EC will serve as the Chairperson of IWMB until the appointment of non-ex-officio members, he added.

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The spokesperson further said that the ministry has consistently supported the previous IWMB Board in implementing court orders and in efforts to conserve biodiversity, particularly in the Margallah Hill National Park (MHNP).

However, he claimed that the former board did not have the mandate to independently manage activities related to MHNP.

He said the climate change ministry made numerous requests to the former IWMB for submitting a comprehensive Margallah Hills Management Plan but it failed to deliver on it.

“The new IWMB has been entrusted to develop and implement effective strategies for the conservation of MHNP’s biodiversity with major focus on reducing forest fires, managing human-wildlife conflicts and creating livelihood opportunities for the native communities surrounding the park, according to the ministry’s press statement.”

He also said that the ministry has initiated a proposal under the “Upscaling Green Pakistan” initiative, aimed at enhancing the overall biodiversity conservation efforts in MHNP.

According to him, this initiative calls for the support and active contribution of all stakeholders, including civil society, media, experts and former Board members to ensure the protection and preservation of the park’s biodiversity and ecosystem, the ministry official said in the press statement.