Flying high

The Houbara Bustard, as its makes its migratory flights across the country, cannot imagine how high it flies. The rather inconspicuous looking bird, which is on the list of threatened species in the world, appears to stand at the centre of Pakistan’s foreign policy. This rather astonishing detail has come out in a review petition filed before the Supreme Court by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has argued that the ban on hunting the Houbara placed last month by the SC would damage Pakistan’s foreign policy; the ministry has asked it be reviewed. The MoFA has also raised other points such as the fact that the Houbara, which makes a migratory journey into Pakistan in the winter months, is not strictly an endangered species and that provincial law, for example in Balochistan, permits limited hunting. But all these details are rather beside the point. The point here is that a bird much sought after by Gulf royals who arrive with their falcons to embark on elaborate hunting missions stands at such a central position in our national policies.
Clearly, we are desperately anxious to keep the Gulf Arabs happy and we know that there is good reason for this. We are hugely dependent on the assistance that pours in from these states while of course tens of thousands of Pakistanis also work in the Middle East and at the present time are facing harsher scrutiny than ever before as countries in the region tighten up policies on immigration. In addition, Pakistan has recently seen extreme tension with Gulf States – essentially over the refusal to send troops into Yemen in defence of Saudi Arabia – with its allies in the region responding poorly to this decision by Parliament. We can see then why the ministry is under pressure and why it has sought a review of the SC decision. The decision comes after one previously taken by the SHC, placing a ban on all hunting of Houbara. But the way the whole case has been put forward makes it seem almost ludicrous. Does the Houbara really figure as part of our foreign policy? And isn’t protecting the native species of our country not more important than pleasing guests who move in each year with large entourages, often disturbing native populations as well as the birds, and go home with huge hauls of the Bustard which is much valued in the Middle East as a delicacy? A more mature approach could have been adopted. The issue of a total ban on the hunting of the bird could have been taken up without mentioning foreign policy issues. This would have been a far more dignified way to go about the matter.