KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the federal authorities to submit their replies to the petition calling for protection of the endangered wildlife and action against the traffickers. SHC’s division bench was hearing a petition filed by non-government organisations, including World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Pakistan) for nature, Pakistan Animal Welfare Society and others seeking an investigation into the smuggling of endangered species, including black-spotted turtles and tortoises, and prosecution of wildlife smugglers under anti-smuggling and Customs laws. The Court extended till December 12 its interim order, staying the proceedings pending before a Malir’s judicial magistrate in turtle-smuggling case. Court directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) counsel to submit a report about the proceedings against wildlife trafficker pending before Custom authorities. The Court issued fresh notice to the alleged trafficker to respond to the petition by December 12. Advocate Faisal Siddiqui representing the petitioners submitted smuggling of turtles and tortoises particularly black spotted turtles, declared vulnerable and endangered species had escalated in the past two years. Recently 218 fresh water black spotted turtles, which were being smuggled to Thailand, were confiscated from Karachi Airport. Subsequently, the custom authorities arrested the alleged smuggler and handed over to Sindh Wildlife Department without registering a case against him under the Custom Act 1969. The Sindh wildlife department registered a case against accused under the Sindh Wild Life Ordinance 1972 and produced him in Court of Malir judicial magistrate. However Court later released the alleged smuggler on bail. He argued Custom authorities had confiscated travelling document of the alleged smuggler under the Customs laws but it did not institute proceeding against him which was required to be initiated under the Custom Act 1969. In response to the Court notice, FBR’s assistant collector submitted a reply, stating Custom authorities were prosecuting the wildlife trafficker under the Custom Act 1969 and a show-cause notice was also issued to him under the Act.