Transportation of six gifted falcons to Saudi Arabia: Prime Minister reportedly violates Pakistani, International law

Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has reportedly violated Pakistani and international law by allowing export of 6 gifted falcons to Saudi Arabia despite opposition by the Commerce Ministry, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
On October 14, 2010, Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani had written a letter to the Prime Minister Gilani for waiver from the prevalent laws of the country for transportation of gifted falcons. The letter states "I have the honour to write these lines and to state that I have presented 6 falcons as a gift to His Royal Highness Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Tabuk, as a gesture of good will.
The falcons are ready at Karachi for dispatch to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I shall be grateful if concerned authorities in FBR/customs are advised to allow transportation of these falcons to Saudi Arabia." A Joint Secretary of the Commerce Ministry, Azher Ali Choudhry, in his note on the request of Chief Minister, Balochistan wrote that falcons are protected and are listed in appendix-II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which Pakistan is a signatory, owing to the international commitment to export of all species listed in appendix I&II of Cities banned except (a) on an authorisation by the National Council for Conservation of wildlife only for the purpose of research and for trophies from community managed areas and, (b) against an NoC of provincial wildlife department only for such birds in captivity.
According to the Joint Secretary, this case does not meet any of these exceptions and therefore, is not covered by the export policy. "Transportation of falcons to Saudi Arabia can only be allowed by giving a special permission by invoking para 5 of the import policy order. In view of unfavourable reports, Commerce Ministry does not favour that option," the sources quoted the JS as saying in his written comments.
On November 5, 2010, Prime Minister secretariat wrote to the Commerce Ministry that in view of brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister has approved the request of Chief Minister Balochistan. However, this is one time dispensation and shall not be quoted as a precedent. The matter may subsequently be placed before the cabinet for seeking ex-post facto approval.
On November 10, 2010, a Research Officer (RO) of the Commerce Ministry, Altaf Hussain Maitlo, in a letter to the Collector Customs, Karachi, wrote that Prime Minister has approved the request of the Chief Minister, Balochistan for transportation of 6 falcons from Karachi to Saudi Arabia presented as gift to Prince Fahad Bin Sultan, as a gesture of good will.
According to the RO, this is one time dispensation and shall not be considered as precedent. This issue is to be placed before the federal cabinet for ex-post facto approval, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (today) with Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in the chair.