Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Tuesday while hearing the case of shifting of animals from Marghazar Zoo to safer places remarked that Wildlife Board members were responsible for the death of two lions, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

“In Wildlife Board Minister for Special Assistant, Minister for Climate Change, Chairman Capital Development Authority and all others are involved. If animals are treated like this, then what would be the treatment for the human beings,” the IHC CJ remarked.

“Those who are responsible for animals’ death are actually investigating the cause of death,” Athar Minallah remarked.

Secretary Climate Change took a stance that gazette notification of the formation of Wildlife Board was not issued to which the ICH CJ replied the court had ordered the formation of the board and cabinet approved it, the TV channel reported.

On Monday, while hearing the case proceedings the ICH Chief Justice ordered initiation of the contempt of court proceedings against Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and Special Assistant Amin Aslam.

The matter surfaced when a lion and a lioness died during the shifting and video of torture became viral on social media before Eidul Azha.

The court also sought names of those responsible from the federal government. Justice Athar Minallah heard the case against the non-transfer of bears from the zoo despite the court orders.

The Ministry of Climate Change lawyer said: "Services of the professionals were hired for animals’ relocation.”

To which the IHC CJ replied: “Ministry of Climate Change and Wildlife Board are only doing politics.”

“The three departments are not ready to take their responsibility. The court had already determined that if something happened to an animal, members of the Wildlife Board would be responsible for relocating all the animals.”

The IHC CJ showed the notification of the Wildlife Board and said the Minister of State for Climate Change, Special Assistant, Parliamentary Secretary and Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change are among the board members.

The court observed that none of the concerned agencies was ready to take responsibility and why the FIR has not been lodged yet against all these officials in Wildlife Board, who violated the court order.

The IHC Chief Justice said: “This court will take action against all those responsible. It is easy to take credit by giving a statement. The State which cannot take care of the animals then how will they take care of human beings.”

The Chief Justice asked who was investigating that matter to which the Deputy Attorney General apprised the court that the inquiry is being conducted by the representatives of the Ministry of Climate Change.

“You have made a mockery of this court's decision,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked.