The Islamabad High Court has ordered a comprehensive regulatory framework to address dire conditions at the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Stray Dog Population Control Center in Tarlai.
The directive came on 25 June 2025, during proceedings in the public interest case Nelofar v. Islamabad Capital Territory and Others, filed by animal rights lawyer Altamush Saeed and his legal team at Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan. The petition brought to light ongoing abuse, neglect, and mismanagement at the CDA’s facility, where numerous stray dogs have died from starvation, illness, and lack of medical care.
The court instructed the CDA and federal authorities to develop a structured, humane policy to govern stray dog population control, addressing critical areas such as rabies vaccination, licensing, shelter standards, and humane veterinary care. The court is also open to halting the Tarlai facility’s operations until proper regulation is in place.
This is the first time Islamabad will formally pursue a humane, science-based approach to stray dog management, rooted in the internationally recognized Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) model. Though this method was mandated in 2020 following a ruling by then Chief Justice Athar Minallah, implementation has remained virtually nonexistent.
Since its opening in 2022, the Tarlai center has operated in blatant violation of the policy: not a single dog has been released with the required ear tag, and hundreds have been left without food, water, or treatment. In a tragic episode earlier this month, over 40 critically ill dogs taken from the facility had to be euthanized after being transferred to a local shelter.
This case has galvanized public support across Islamabad, drawing on the efforts of veterinarians, activists, students, lawyers, and volunteers. Organizations such as Stray Homes Animal Welfare, Critters Ark, and CDRS Benji Project have been central to documenting the abuses and advocating for reform.
Beyond animal cruelty, the facility has now been flagged as a public health hazard, with concerns over zoonotic disease transmission due to tick infestations and unhygienic conditions.
The Islamabad High Court’s intervention is being hailed as a critical turning point and a major win for voiceless stray animals.