'Public endangerment': Police detain Karachi lion owner after video of 'pet' on streets goes viral

Saqlain Sherwala drove the pet around city streets in a Toyota Vigo

KARACHI: Days after a video of a lion being driven around the streets of Karachi made rounds on social media, police detained late Wednesday the pet and his owner following public complaints.

Citizens had made videos and lodged a complaint regarding the lion being driven around the city in a Toyota Vigo.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal took notice of the incident, following which the authorities took into custody Saqlain alias Sherwala, and his pet lion.



PHOTO: EXPRESS

"I have all documents, including the licence. The video is four days old. My lion was sick and I took him to the doctor for a visit in Defence, and was returning home," the owner told media at Gulberg police station.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

While Saqlain is a licence holder, SSP central Muqaddar Haider said officials were inquiring into the matter.

The owner has produced the licence along with other documents, which will be shared with the wildlife department for verification, he added.