LHC to hear plea about pet market deaths

LAHORE:

Taking up a petition challenging the Lahore Development Authority's (LDA) demolition operation allegedly resulting in the death of hundreds of birds and animals in a pet market near Data Darbar, Lahore High Court Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry directed the petitioner's counsel Izzat Fatima to assist the bench on legal points in the next hearing.

The petition cited the Punjab government, the LDA, and the wildlife department as respondents.

According to the petitioner, the LDA had carried out the demolition of the market unannounced on November 7.

The petition claimed that hundreds of birds, cats, dogs, and rabbits were buried under debris and died, as no arrangements had been made beforehand to remove or relocate them.

The petitioner argued that the action amounted to a violation of Articles 4, 9, and 14 of the Constitution.

The petitioner requested the court to declare the operation illegal. It sought directions for the formulation of policies and rules for the protection and relocation of animals during such government actions.

Additionally, the petitioner requested an inquiry against officials responsible for alleged negligence.