Nawaz does a Salman, hunts protected deer in Sindh?

Karachi, Mar.10 : Bollywood star Salman Khan may have former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his company. No, not for any new silver screen project but as a partner in crime in hunting down a protected species of deer.

The story goes like this, the former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif recently spent a night in a private safari park in the Ghotki district during his visit to Sindh.

Sharif conducted several meetings with local political leaders and feudal lords in connection with the forthcoming local bodies' election during his stay.

During his voyage, the PML-N chief stayed at a private safari park Taar Waro Shikargah, which is owned by one of the most influential families of the region. Sharif reportedly had the time of his life hunting down a 'protected' deer during his stay at the private park.

However, reports regarding him killing a 'conserved' species are yet to be confirmed.

The wildlife department has ordered an inquiry into the issue but nothing substantial has emerged.

Sindh Wildlife Minister Dr Dayaram Essrani said the final report was issued within a few days of the incident and, according to the report, it remained unproven that Sharif had killed the animal.

Essrani, however, admitted that some animals were shot in the same area, but Sharif was involved in it.

"Some local people with licences had hunted the birds and animals," The Daily Times quoted Essrani, as saying.

It is worth mentioning here that Salman Khan was convicted by a local court in Rajasthan in April 2006 in connection with a poaching case. The court had also imposed a fine of 25,000 rupees on him after he was found guilty of poaching Chinkaras, a protected species, at Ujiyala Bhakhar near Ghoda Farm in 1998 while shooting for the film "Hum Saath Saath Hain".

Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Satish Shah, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari were acquitted in the case.

Salman Khan was also sentenced to a year''s imprisonment in another poaching case at Bhawad.