By our staff reporter
Islamabad: Police in Pakistan has registered a case against three persons allegedly tirturing a pair of lions leading to their death.
Police in Pakistani capital registered at Kohsar Police Station, under section 429-PPC and section 5 of the Animal Act 1990, in response to a complaint, lodged by a journalist Shakeel Ahmed.
According to a camera footage, accused lightened fires in the animals’ enclosure at Islamabad Zoo, to move the lions inside cages; they also poked the lion with sticks to force it out. Sadly, Pair of lions died later, while they were being moved to a lion breeding sanctuary in Kasur district.
A public relation officer of Islamabad capital territory police confirmed the incident saying FIR has been registered. No arrest was made until filing of this report.
Police have asked for video footage of the incident from the complainant, to identify the accused for further legal action.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has formed an inquiry committee to investigate the deaths of both lions. Under directives from Islamabad High Court, the pair was being shifted from Marghazar Zoo, however, both animals died on the way to the sanctuary in Kasur.
The lion and lioness were both eight-years-old; they were brought to the zoo in 2016 from Lahore Safari Park, as part of the Bird and Animal Exchange Programme between Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Punjab government.