The Lone elephant Kavan kept in captivity by Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation in a zoo was given emancipation for setting it free into its natural habitat by the Honorable Islamabad High Court in its historical decision upholding the rights of the animals. The court held that animals in captivity at the Mrghzar Zoo in Islamabad have been kept in conditions that amounts to subjecting them to unnecessary pain and suffering and are thus in violation of the prevention of cruelty to animal’s act 1890 and The Wildlife Ordinance of 1979. the judgement further added that neither there are adequate facilities nor resources to provide living conditions that would meet the behavioral social and physiological needs of the animals.
behind the campaign for freedom of Kavaaran was the US pop singer Cher who had adopted Kavaan and had campaigned for its freedom. she declared the decision as one of the greatest moments of her life. Cher deserves profound appreciation for her most soft heart for nature including animals. Cher has indeed set an ideal role model for other celebrities to adopt and work for nature including animal rights.
in our country there are indeed few muted voices for animal rights, there is always a cynical argument in our country that we are not able to protect even basic Human Rights in our country how do we campaign for animal rights. They further argue that millions of our people live under subhuman conditions how can such a society talk about animal rights. Unfortunately, it is this poor class which uses animals for their livelihood and are the biggest abusers of animal right perpetrators of cruelty on animals, like donkey and horse cart operators, farmers who use oxen and bulls in some areas even cows are used for tilling the land.
According to Brooks” report there are112 million working donkeys, Horses and mules in developing countries supporting 600 million people and unfortunately these very beneficiaries of the toil of these beasts of the burden badly, tortured brutalize and miss treat their bread earner animals.
In 2009 the Treaty of Lisbon placed animals welfare on an equal footing with other key aspirations of the EU such as gender equality ,social protection, human health and sustainable development .Pakistan is also member of the world organization on animal health which is also called oie office International the epizooties, Member states have to ensure five basic freedoms for animals freedom from hunger thirst and malnutrition freedom from fear and distress freedom from physical and thermal discomfort freedom from pain injury and disease and freedom to express normal patterns of behavior relevant to the animals kind. The charter of OIE stipulates criteria for animal welfare which include sufficient diet, water, comfortable space, hygiene medical treatment, painless surgical procedures and mental and emotional security the Animal Rights have a profound moral and ethical dimension in terms of societal behavior, empathy and kindness are the major planks of the ethical framework of a civilized society. The members of a civilized society are expected to show kindness and empathy not only to the fellow humans but to other living beings as well as nonliving objects of nature. Such a societal behaviour in which kindness and empathy are the major components of human constitute universal value system cutting across all other social, cultural and religious norms.
Allah almighty in his infinite wisdom has assigned this earth to All Creatures Quran says and the earth He (Allah) has assigned it to all living creatures Quaran 55. 10. this Aayah very clearly define that all other living creatures besides human beings have equal rights on this earth created by Allah. The rights of the creatures on this earth would include right to life and protection from pain and suffering. There are several Ahadees quoting Prophet Muhammad regarding animal rights Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying” whoever is merciful even to a sparrow Allah will be merciful to him on the day of judgement.” The Prophet Muhammad is futher quoted to have said “a good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to human being “.
In Surah Rahman Allah says there is not a moving living creature on earth nor a Bird that flies with its two wings but are communities like you, we have neglected nothing in the Book then onto their Lord all shall be gathered 6.8. the Aayah very clearly defines that other living creatures are equal to human societies in terms of their place in the divine design of the nature, therefore human beings should not and cannot because of their superiority as thinking creatures who can express themselves can exploit other creatures who cannot Express themselves. The Ayah also establishes sentient nature of animals, who have to be treated with kindness and empathy and due consideration by human beings, being the vicegerent of almighty Allah on this earth.
Prevention of cruelty to animal act 1890 may be scrapped and a new animal’s rights act be enacted in line with the national policy on animal rights by the parliament
Pakistan being a Muslim country cannot violet the injections of Holy Quran and directions of Holy Prophet in terms of rights of animals, therefore there is a need to bring changes in our laws governing the animal rights. The following strategy for protection of animal rights is suggested.
1. formation of a National Policy on Animal Rights:
2. enactment of an Animal Rights Act
3. formation of animal rights advisory body
4. formation of a regulatory authority Called Animal Rights Protection Agency ( ARPA)
5. Undertake a public awareness campaign in collaboration with civil society and religious leaders for protection of animal rights
The national policy on animal rights should be a comprehensive document on animal protection and welfare which should be prepared by engaging all stakeholders including veterinary professionals, animal health professionals, animal rights activists, agriculture and environment experts, wildlife and Forestry experts as well as academia. Prevention of cruelty to animal act 1890 may be scrapped and a new animal’s rights act be enacted in line with the national policy on animal rights by the parliament. As per the Commandments of the Quran the earth has been assigned to all living creatures hence the legislation should recognise the respect for all sentient life forms including animals. The proposed Animal Rights Act should define animals as sentient beings with intrinsic values needing protection and care.
Kindness to animals is essentially a societal behaviour therefore the government should co-opt civil society as well as religious leaders to increase the public awareness about animal rights. The animal rights should be taught to the children in the schools and it should be part of the syllabus. Veterinary science should be given priority by allocation of resources and establishment of veterinary colleges and Universities all over the country. This will also help in economic terms because Pakistan essentially is an agricultural country and development of veterinary Sciences will help develop our Dairy form sector.
The writer is former Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam