Court Orders Lion Moved to Safari Park After Shocking Attack on Children in Lahore
LAHORE – A Model Town court has directed the transfer of an African lion to a safari park after it viciously attacked three people, including two children, in a horrifying incident that took place in the Shah Di Khui area of Lahore.
Judicial Magistrate Hassan Sarfaraz Cheema issued the ruling after examining the Wildlife Department’s request and case documents. The lion was seized in a late-night raid on July 3 and was found to be illegally kept by private individuals in a residential locality.
The Wildlife Inspector informed the court that the lion’s confinement violated the Punjab Wildlife Act and posed a serious threat to public safety. The magistrate subsequently ordered the animal to be relocated to a secure, regulated environment at a safari park.
The court action follows the arrest of the lion’s owners: Malik Azam Shani, Malik Ghulam Murtaza, and Malik Behram. They are facing charges including attempted murder and failure to control a wild animal, as registered in a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Johar Town police.
The Attack That Sparked Outrage
On the night of the incident, the lion was reportedly being walked in public when it suddenly went on a rampage, mauling a woman and two children. All three victims sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Jinnah Hospital for emergency treatment.
The brutal nature of the attack drew immediate attention from DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, who ordered a rapid wildlife intervention to secure the animal and prevent further harm.
The event has ignited widespread public outrage, with citizens and activists calling for stricter enforcement of wildlife laws and complete bans on the private domestication of exotic and dangerous animals, especially in urban residential areas.
