Pakistan

'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

Faraz Khan June 15, 2017

Saqlain was seen driving the lion around the streets of Karachi city in a Toyota Vigo. VIDEO SCREENGRAB

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.

Meet Simba, king of the house!

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.

COMMENTS (8)

A.K.Tewari | 7 years ago | Reply It's a cruality and should be baned .

Ali S | 7 years ago | Reply Idiots trying to imitate Arab sheikhs in a third world country. It's completely inhumane for the poor animal to be chained around like that - it's only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt (hopefully not some unfortunate passerby).

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Rashid | 7 years ago | Reply Keeping animal pets should br declared illegal by Sindh Assembly. In this civilized world or global villagr, keeping animals chained or birds in cages, is an inhiman act in 21st. century. CM Sindh may please do the needful in coordination with WILD LIFE ORGANIZATION OF UNO.

OSD | 7 years ago | Reply This is ridiculous! Why does the government even hand out licenses for such animals to be kept as pets? It is stupid to think that an animal as powerful as a lion can be kept as pet!

Logitech | 7 years ago | Reply Lioness*

Sameer | 7 years ago | Reply What rubbish this is? A Lion, he looks like a cub. The poor thing belongs in its natural habitat. What sort of leash they have on the poor cat! This is animal cruelty!

Amir | 7 years ago | Reply Saqib Sherwala is not his real name. I had seen a similar scene in PECHS and turned out the person who has this works for NAB So expect no action against him or whoever he is

Adnan | 7 years ago | Reply One real lion detained in Karachi another so called one is in process of being detained in Islamabad.

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