SUKKUR: The Sindh High Court, Sukkur bench, on Tuesday repeated its earlier order that elected public representatives should supervise dog-culling drives within their respective areas and submit a report in the court, and warned that contempt proceedings could be initiated against them if they did not comply with the order.

The bench comprising Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar and Justice Mustafa Kamal Alam was hearing a petition pertaining to growing dog-bite incidents in many districts of Sindh.

The bench asked the addition advocate general (AAG) about such drives and the reports as required by it in the earlier hearing. The AAG contended that dog-culling campaign was a job undertaken by municipal administrations and they should be responsible to submit such reports.

The bench expressed its displeasure over the argument, and issued clear directives that “members of the provincial assembly shall supervise campaigns of killing stray dogs within their respective constituencies and regularly submit such reports in court”.

The bench also made it clear that any elected public representatives failing to submit such reports would be issued contempt notice.

Senior officials of police and municipal administrations attended the hearing.

The court adjourned the matter to Feb 24.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021