Man arrested over alleged bestiality

Abdul Salam

Police have arrested a man and registered a case over the alleged sexual abuse of a donkey in Bhader village within the jurisdiction of Kakarali police station, police said.

As per the first information report (FIR), the donkey's owner had lent the animal to the suspect, identified as Shahadat Ali, on the pretext of bringing fodder. The suspect allegedly took the donkey to nearby fields, where the owner claimed to have caught him in the act.

Police registered a case on the complaint of the animal's owner and arrested the suspect.

Kakarali SHO Abdul Rehman Dogar said the suspect was a resident of Sahiwal and had been working at a cattle farm in the area.

He said the donkey would undergo a veterinary examination before the suspect was produced before a court.

The examination is intended to help investigators collect relevant evidence in the case.

Police also said the suspect had allegedly confessed to the incident while in custody. However, the legal status and evidentiary value of any such statement would be determined during the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.

Legal expert Advocate Hamad Najeeb said sexual acts involving animals could fall within the scope of criminal law. He said Section 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code could be considered depending on the nature of the alleged incident and available evidence, while other provisions relating to cruelty to animals might also apply.

He stressed that the final determination of the applicable legal provisions would depend on the investigation, evidence and judicial proceedings.