CONFUSION remains about the fate of more than 20,000 Australian sheep in Pakistani feedlots, with local importers winning an injunction against a government order to cull the flock because they are diseased.
The sheep were unloaded in Karachi earlier this month — the first ever Australian shipment of sheep to Pakistan — after Bahraini authorities rejected the animals because of scabby mouth.
After two weeks at sea, exporter Wellard were able to sell them to a Pakistani importer.
Despite being given the all clear by quarantine, and a negative disease test carried out by the National laboratory, local authorities ordered their destruction following a second test carried out at poultry centre found the animals to be sick and unfit for human consumption.
Pakistan industry and Australian officials both disagree saying the animals are healthy.
Before the injunction 700 animals had been killed, and a court was due to look at the details and length of the injunction last night . A third independent test of the animal's health is now being sought.
Sources in Pakistan told Fairfax that there was plenty of misreporting in the local media which was fuelling the issue.
One local report said hundreds of Australian sheep had been sold to restaurants and hotels — a breach of new Australian animal welfare export rules — but was unverified.
Wellard, the All Pakistan Meat Exporters & Processors Association and the Australian department of agriculture vehemently deny the report.
"The statements and claims circulating in many international media reports lack credibility," the department said.
Local politics and competition may have fuelled the situation, sources say.
Animals Australia campaign director Lyn White is demanding a full government investigation into the supply of sheep to Pakistan, calling the situation "an absolute debacle."
"Pakistan was a fast-tracked 'solution' for an exporter desperate to avoid a PR disaster when this shipment of sheep was rejected by Bahrain,” Ms White said.
Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he was trying to stop the cull, and he told Labor's caucus that Australian trade officials were on the ground and animal welfare was "paramount."
ALP backbenchers Melissa Parke and Kelvin Thomson have both said the case has reinforced the poor animal welfare outcomes in live exports.
"Somebody needs to be there from Australia to look after the animals from a welfare point of view," Ms Parke said. "The situation is a schmozzle."
The Greens have also called for a full investigation, as well as a shutdown of industry, while Pakistan media reports its Prime Minister pushing for a full investigation to the matter.
"Despite this, the Government understands some of the reports are concerning. We are monitoring all the reports and treating this situation seriously," a department spokesman said.