PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
BEAR BAITING IN PAKISTAN (16 May 2005)

That this House is concerned that bear-baiting events are still taking place in Pakistan even though it is prohibited by Pakistani legislation; notes that bears for baiting are captured from the wild, that their incisors and canine teeth are extracted and their muzzles pierced with a nose ring; further notes that baiting involves setting dogs on a bear that is tethered to a central pivot; further notes that baiting is only carried out by a small minority of influential Pakistanis; welcomes the Directive issued by the President of Pakistan that bears that are confiscated pursuant to being used in baiting should be placed in a sanctuary established by the World Society for the Protection of Animals; regrets that confiscated bears are not being placed in that sanctuary; respectfully urges the Government of Pakistan to take steps to end all bear-baiting and the capture of bears from the wild and to ensure that confiscated bears are placed in the sanctuary established for that purpose in the NWFP; and urges the Government to offer assistance to the Government of Pakistan to help end bear-baiting.

Sponsored by:
Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK)