Actor Ushna Shah urges action on animal rights

In open letter, she commends Punjab CM on her 'positive' leadership but stresses measures against animal abuse

KARACHI:

Pakistani actor Ushna Shah has written an open letter to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, urging immediate action against animal cruelty in the province.

In a post shared on Instagram, the actor acknowledged what she described as positive developments under the chief minister's leadership, particularly in areas such as women's safety, cleanliness and public order. However, she expressed concern over what she called a "silence" on the issue of animal abuse.

Referring to a recent viral video showing a dog allegedly tied to a vehicle and dragged along a road in Punjab, Shah said such incidents are shaping a negative public perception as cruelty cases continue to surface without visible deterrence.

She highlighted reports of animals being crushed in markets, donkeys beaten, and organised dog fighting, stressing that "they cannot speak" and are also "Allah ki makhlooq."

In her letter, Shah proposed several measures, including province-wide spay and neuter programmes instead of culling, stricter enforcement of animal cruelty laws, regulation of donkey carts to prevent injury, banning wild animals as pets, ending dog fighting, reforming animal markets, and initiating a transition of zoos into sanctuaries.

"If you take initiative and show kindness towards animals. you could set an example not just for Punjab but for the rest of the country," she wrote, adding that the province could become great "not only for its human citizens, but for all citizens."

Her appeal has sparked discussion on social media, with many users supporting calls for stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws, while others debated the role of public figures in shaping policy conversations.