Voiceless suffering

A recent incident in Bahawalnagar town of Punjab has once again brought to light the ugly reality of animal cruelty in the country. A buffalo reportedly wandered into the home of a landlord in Minchinabad. Instead of being sent back to its owner, the animal was beaten, stabbed and had its legs nearly chopped off. The men then threw the wounded buffalo onto the road where it lay in agony. A video of the incident going viral forced the police to register a case.

This incident shines a harsh light on the persistent, sickening issue of animal cruelty across the country. For every case that gains traction on social media, a vast number of others go unnoticed and unreported. This type of gratuitous violence is often fuelled by a dangerous mix of impunity and the cultural belief that an animal's life holds no real value, especially for those who feel they are above the law. Punjab's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act dates back to 1890. It is outdated and rarely enforced. The provincial Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals merely exists in name – lacking funds and staff, besides seriousness. In most cases, action is taken only after public outrage, and even then, it fades quickly.

We need to ask ourselves a serious question: What does our treatment of the most vulnerable creatures say about us as a society? It's simply not enough to rely on viral videos for justice to be served. We need stronger, enforceable animal protection laws that carry meaningful penalties, and perhaps more importantly, a genuine shift in mindset. Compassion for animals isn't a frivolous luxury; it is a fundamental measure of our own humanity. It's high time we started treating these creatures as living beings deserving of protection and kindness.