BAHAWALPUR: Hundreds of people took out a ‘United Arab of Emirates (UAE) Solidarity Rally’ in Yazman, on Wednesday pressing the federal government to allow the rulers of Dubai and other Gulf states to hunt migratory birds in the nearby desert of Cholistan.

The rulers from Gulf states have been poaching and hunting the wintering Houbara bustard birds in the vast desert of Cholistan for several years.

In August, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of all licences issued by the federal government to Arab royals for the hunting of Houbara bustard. The government followed the court orders, even though it said they had allowed the UAE rulers to hunt birds as a pillar of foreign policy.

The participants flashed placards and banners inscribed with slogans highlighting friendship and cooperation of UAE’s leaders with Pakistan.

Speakers demanded that the government accord the foreign dignitaries permission for hunting in the desert, saying such trips would bring jobs for thousands of people of the desert.

They raised slogans ‘Restore jobs of thousands of poor workers”, ‘Thousands of deserving families earn their livelihood through hunting trips’, ‘Due to them (rulers) the deserts are green’, and ‘The development projects have been completed here (by UAE rulers)’.

They also raised slogans in the favour of UAE rulers. The procession began from Tailwala Road Housing Scheme and concluded at the City Police Station.

The name of any organisation or body was not mentioned on any banner or placard at the rally.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015