The Peshawar High Court officially accepted a petition from the Village Conservation Committees (VCCs) of Chitral, stopping the Anti-Corruption Department from interfering in their financial affairs.
Justices Arshad Ali and Fahim Wali delivered the judgment after hearing arguments regarding the 80% revenue share from Markhor trophy hunting. This ruling protects the community-managed funds meant for local development and wildlife protection.
The legal dispute began when the Anti-Corruption Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered several cases against 12 VCCs in Chitral. Specifically, the department tried to prevent the committees from withdrawing their designated funds. The department argued that committees should only access the interest earned on bank deposits rather than the principal amount.
However, the petitioners’ lawyers, Ghufranullah Shah and Abdul Basit Gilani, argued that this restriction violated official government policy. They stated that the 1999 notification grants the VCCs full authority over their 80% share. By blocking these funds, the Anti-Corruption Department effectively paralyzed local welfare projects and conservation efforts.
The Community’s Right to Conservation Revenue
The defense emphasized that the Markhor trophy hunting program relies entirely on the cooperation of local villagers. Since 1999, the VCCs have ensured the protection of the Markhor by preventing poaching and even sacrificing their own crops to feed the animals during winter. In exchange, the government promised 80% of the hunting permit revenue to the local population.
The lawyers argued that these funds are the primary source of income for these remote communities. Specifically, the money funds:
- Local infrastructure and water schemes.
- Education and healthcare projects.
- Direct financial support for residents who protect the habitat.
Court Restores Committee Authority
After reviewing the notifications and hearing the arguments, the court ruled in favor of the Chitral VCCs. The bench concluded that the Anti-Corruption Department overstepped its bounds by restricting the committees’ access to their funds. Therefore, the court allowed the 12 committees to resume their work without the threat of legal harassment or financial freezes.
The court reaffirmed that the VCCs have the legal right to manage and spend their 80% share as per the original government agreement. This decision ensures that the community-based conservation model in Chitral remains sustainable and effective.
