A coalition of civil society groups, environmental experts, and citizen organizations, in a statement on Tuesday, termed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s action against the former chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, Rina Saeed Khan, as retaliatory action and demanded intervention from the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The demand was made during an online webinar organized by Devcom-Pakistan, where representatives of various environmental organizations, journalists, and legal experts unanimously stated that Rina Saeed Khan is being targeted for revenge due to her environmental role and for implementing Supreme Court decisions.
The participants of the virtual conference argued that as the chairperson of the IWMB, Rina Saeed Khan ran a vigorous campaign against encroachments, illegal constructions, and tree cutting in the Margalla Hills National Park, acting on clear court orders. These actions allegedly affected the interests of an influential mafia and certain high-ranking government officials, who are suspected of now instigating official actions against her.
Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed said, “Rina Saeed Khan bravely implemented the Supreme Court’s orders, but now she is being punished for those very actions. This is clearly a retaliatory action against the defenders of environmental justice. The Prime Minister must personally intervene to restore the rule of law and the dignity of environmental governance.”
At the end of the event, all participants expressed their commitment to continue expressing solidarity with Rina Saeed Khan, to keep raising their voices for the protection of the Margalla Hills’ natural ecosystem, and to advance the struggle for environmental justice in a more organized manner.