Restructuring Islamabad wildlife management board autonomy under the current legal regime: a legal study of challenges and incidents at Margalla Hills National Park

Abstract

Islamabad Capital Territory, the second most picturesque capital in the world, has an inadequate and ambiguous wildlife legislation with numerous practical gray areas, all developed and developing nations openly denounce and do not support the elimination of animal rights. The purpose of this research is to analyze the current situation, determine the main causes of the problems, and suggest solutions to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board's (IWMB) difficulties in enforcing and legally implementing the Wildlife Law in Islamabad Capital Territory. This research followed the doctrinal research methodology where the researcher did the investigative examination of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance, 1979, Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Rules, 1983– CDA’s Law and relevant Case Laws. The researcher identified substantial shortcomings and uncertainties in the current Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance, 1979, and Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Rules, 1983. As a result, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), an independent organization responsible for the development of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), is interfering in matters related to wildlife in the capital. This demonstrates that while the government is aware of the situation, it intentionally avoids making a strong commitment to Federal Wildlife legislation. The insufficient commitment to nature and natural habitats weakens the independence of the IWMB and poses a substantial threat to the flora and fauna of ICT. To resolve these problems, it is crucial to promptly restructure IWMB in a way that grants it independence and removes the current constraints imposed by the current legal framework.