The Islamabad High Court on Friday permanently banned the poisoning, shooting and indiscriminate killing of stray dogs in the federal capital, directing authorities to adopt a humane population control approach instead.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro disposed of two constitutional petitions in a 24-page judgment, ordering the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority, the ICT administration and other relevant bodies to ensure no arbitrary or inhumane action is taken against stray dogs.
The petitions were filed by an Islamabad resident named Niloofar and others, challenging the non-implementation of the Stray Dog Population Control Policy for the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The court directed authorities to implement a catch, neuter, vaccinate and release programme for managing stray dog populations. It also barred the removal of lactating, collared, vaccinated or healthy community dogs from their local areas except for lawful and properly recorded reasons.
The judgment noted photographic evidence presented during proceedings showing dead dogs inside a CDA vehicle, with the court observing that the respondents could not furnish any satisfactory explanation for it.
“Such conduct raises serious concerns not merely of administrative lapse but of a fundamental departure from the rule of law,” Justice Soomro said.
Drawing on Islamic teachings from the Holy Quran and Sunnah, the court held that mass and indiscriminate killing of animals without lawful justification cannot be reconciled with Islamic law or international principles. It ruled that euthanasia may only be used as a limited and exceptional measure for critically ill, severely injured or rabid animals, and must be carried out by qualified veterinarians.
The court ordered authorities to maintain complete records of all dogs captured, treated, sterilised, vaccinated, released or euthanised, and to frame standard operating procedures for their capture, transport, sheltering and treatment.
It also directed the formation of an advisory committee comprising veterinarians, zoonotic disease experts, animal welfare organisations and civil society representatives, along with the establishment of a dog bite database and an animal abuse registry.
The judgment further called for improved waste management in residential and commercial areas to cut food sources for stray dogs, and the regulation of stray feeding at designated places and times.
The court noted that Pakistan lacks uniform national legislation on stray animal management, and that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, remains outdated.
Authorities have been given 60 days to submit a compliance report to the court’s deputy registrar.
