By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The district administration has taken strict action against the illegal felling of government owned trees sentencing the main accused to 30 days in prison and ordering the Forest Department to initiate immediate suspension proceedings against a forest officer allegedly involved in the offence.
According to an official notification issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government Assistant Commissioners have been delegated magisterial powers under Section 14-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Exercising these powers the Forest Department Dera Ismail Khan produced a suspect before the court of Assistant Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Hamid Siddiq in connection with the illegal cutting of government trees.
The accused was charged with illegally felling government owned trees near Nakhalistan Park in violation of the Forest Ordinance 2002.
After conducting a regular trial in accordance with the law and examining the evidence and official record presented before the court the Assistant Commissioner acting as Special Magistrate found the accused guilty and sentenced him to 30 days in prison. Orders were also issued for his transfer to jail to serve the sentence.
Furthermore, the Divisional Forest Officer was directed to initiate proceedings for the immediate suspension of the forest officer allegedly involved in the illegal tree-felling incident.
The department has also been instructed to identify those responsible and ensure legal and departmental action against them in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations.
Speaking on the occasion Assistant Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Hamid Siddiq said that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found damaging government property forests and natural resources.
He also directed the Forest Department to strengthen monitoring and take effective measures to protect government owned trees and prevent illegal logging in the district.
