In compliance with the court's order, secretary Ministry of Climate Change submitted a detailed report. It appears from the facts narrated in the written report that, prima facie, Director Marghazar Zoo Rana Tahir Mahmood and Deputy Director Dr Muhammad Bilal Khilji had made attempts to delay implementation of this court's interim order dated 05-07-2019 and thereby disobeyed or disregarded it.
Preliminary replies have been submitted by both the respondents/contemnors, which have not been found to be satisfactory, the court noted. In light of the detailed report submitted by the secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Rana Tahir Mahmood and Dr Muhammad Bilal Khilji are hereby proceeded against under the contempt of court ordinance 2003 by serving on them respective show cause notices. The alleged contemnors shall submit written replies within four days from the date of receipt of show cause notices.
The office is further directed to issue notice to the advocate general Islamabad for prosecuting both the alleged contemnors. The show cause notices are directed to be served through special messenger.
Hearing the case on September 2, the IHC bench had observed that it has been proved that Islamabad Zoo is not meeting the standards set for a zoo internationally. Justice Athar said that the zoo administration intends to bring three more elephants while it is not even properly taking care of a lone elephant in the zoo.
The IHC chief justice had said, "If you people cannot facilitate the elephant, send it back to Sri Lanka." The deputy director of the zoo said that a PC-I was forwarded to the Planning Commission for improving the conditions in Islamabad Zoo and to meet the international standard but the proposal was rejected. The case was adjourned until September 12.