Born to be wild: Wildlife department raids falcon hunting camp in Charsadda

When the falcons attack, hunters trap them using nets. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR: A team of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Wildlife Department raided a falcon hunting camp in Shadbara village of Charsadda on Wednesday and confiscated several smaller birds used as prey to catch falcons.

Wildlife Subdivisional Forest Officer Sardar Ali Khan told The Express Tribune the department received a tip-off about a camp set up by a group of falcon hunters near the bank of Kabul River in Shabdara, following which he assembled a team and raided the location.

The hunters, however, managed to escape, leaving behind their motorcycles, nets, pigeons and other small birds used to lure the falcons into traps. "We have destroyed the camp and taken everything into custody. An FIR has been registered against the hunters under Sections 11 and 15 of the Wildlife Act, 1975," Khan added.

"The netting of endangered Saker and Peregrine falcons along with all other types of falcons is completely banned in the country and we have launched a drive against those who hunt them," the forest officer said.

Khan explained pigeons or smaller falcons are normally used as prey to attract Saker falcons. When the falcons attack, hunters trap them using nets. "These hunters were just trying their luck and had not managed to catch a Saker yet," claimed Khan, adding the hunters would be fined Rs300,000 when and if they are apprehended.

According to Khan, most of the Saker falcons are netted in Afghanistan, China and Russia and then transported to Peshawar where visiting Arab sheikhs purchase them because falconry is a centuries-old tradition in Arab society.

"A large Peregrine or Saker falcon can fetch as much as Rs10 million, but such large birds are becoming rare because of overhunting," he said.

Earlier last month, four Saker Falcons were recovered by the K-P Wildlife Department from Kohat Road near Badhaber. However, the man attempting to smuggle them in a passenger coach managed to flee. Officials speculated the accused was taking the birds to UAE via Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2013.

 

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The Pakhtun guardians of churches

These watchmen, few of them having some education, teach society at large how good it feels to protect one another, irrespective of religious differences. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

KARACHI: 

Mumtaz Khan wakes up before the crack of dawn every day and offers Fajr prayers. Immediately afterwards, he heads towards St Anthony's Church in Karachi. He's been doing this for the past 12 years. He's a guard at the Catholic parish.

"No religion teaches attacking places of worship," says the 43-year-old Pathan. "This is what Islam teaches us."

Khan was born and raised in the meadows surrounding Abbotabad. In search of greener pastures, he moved to Karachi in 2000 where he replaced his uncle as security guard at the 75-year-old church.

From dawn till dusk, he sits inside the iron gate. He carefully looks through the peephole before he opens the gate to let the parishioners in.

"No Pathan would harm anyone, especially the religious minorities," says the tall Khan, proudly claiming. "Those you saw helping the injured in Peshawar attacks were all Pathans."

Khan was referring to the Sept 22 twin suicide attacks on All Saints Church right after the Sunday mass that killed 80-plus worshippers and injured many more. This incident has brought into question the security at places of worship.

While the government has pledged to enhance security, at many churches, only private watchmen like Mumtaz Khan can be seen sitting at the entrances, alone and unarmed.

"A terrorist has to get through me first," he says bravely. "Some of my cousins are also protecting educational institutes in the city. We are never afraid."

Despite the law and order situation, fear seems to be the last thing on his mind. With a wife and four children back in his hometown, his job is what he is most concerned about.

Generations of saviours

Christian missionaries have served the poor and oppressed everywhere in the world. In the post-Partition scenario, Muslim watchmen have determinedly given protection to them.

Hussain Bakht, 30, succeeded his father, Shireen Khan, when the old man retired after 25 years of devoted service as a watchman at St Jude's Church in North Nazimabad.

At a time when many of his age were joining the militant outfits in his tribal town of Dir, Hussain Bakht looked for a peaceful livelihood.

"There is nothing to fear when I'm here," says the blond haired, grey-eyed Pathan guard. With no weekly holidays, he stands guard eight hours every day throughout the year.

"It does not matter if it is a chilling December night or a scorching day in June, my commitment is to my job and to the people whose life I have to protect," says young father of two.

These watchmen, few of them having some education, teach society at large how good it feels to protect one another, irrespective of religious differences.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2013.

For love or revenge?: Woman allegedly gunned down by husband’s brothers

CHARSADDA: A woman was allegedly gunned down on Monday by the brothers of her husband, who she had earlier reportedly killed with the help of her paramour.

Shamin, 20, of Naguman, was married to Rahat Gul, a resident of Prang, said police official Shafiullah Khan. He added she later reportedly got involved in an affair with Imran Khan, a resident of Urmar.

Shafiullah said she then allegedly planned the murder of her husband with the help of Imran. He maintained Gul was taken to a nearby shrine on some unknown pretext and then shot by the accused couple. Gul was severely injured but managed to escape.

Shafiullah said Gul accused his wife of trying to take his life before he succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Prang police then arrested Shamim, who confessed to the murder. Soon after, Imran was also apprehended. Both the accused also confessed to their crime before the court.

Shamim was subsequently released on bail by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), while Imran settled the case with Gul's family and was also released from Charsadda jail.

On Monday morning, however, Gul's three brothers Fazal Maula, Faridun, Murad and their relative Akbar Shah allegedly opened fire at Shamim and her father Rahim Gul as they were en route to the court in a car. As a result, Shamim died on the spot.

"Eyewitnesses said burqa-clad men on two motorcycles opened fire on Bypass Road," shared Shafiullah, adding the assailants managed to escape after the incident.

On the other hand, Inspector Amir Nawaz at Prang police station said Shamim's mother filed a report two days ago, stating her daughter had been missing for the last three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2013.

 

ANP leaders visit bombing victim families

PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) condemned the car bomb explosion in Qissa Khwani Bazaar that killed at least 42 people including women and children.The ANP leaders including former information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Imran Afridi and Sadruddin on Monday visited the ill-fated family in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda district which lost 18 members in the blast. They expressed sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed for the departed souls. They also enquired after the injured persons.Mian Iftikhar Hussain said anti-state elements did not want peace in the region.