A man in Lahore’s Shah Di Khui area was arrested on Friday after his pet lion escaped and attacked a nearby family, prompting swift action from both police and wildlife officials.
The lion’s owner, Malik Bahram, son of Malik Nazim, was found to have kept the animal without a valid license.
Authorities filed an FIR against him under the Wildlife Act as well as attempted murder charges. Others, including Malik Azam Shani and Malik Ghulam Murtaza, were also named for their involvement.
The terrifying incident took place at a farmhouse in Johar Town, where the lion broke out of an unsecured cage, jumped over a wall, and injured residents in a nearby street before running off.
The wounded victims were taken to Jinnah Hospital, where two children remain in critical condition.
The Punjab Wildlife Department quickly seized the lion and moved it to a designated sanctuary. Officials stressed that ”
keeping a lion without a license is a non-bailable offense,” which can lead to up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs 5 million.
The department urged the public to report illegal wild animal ownership by dialing the Wildlife Helpline at 1107.
This latest incident comes shortly after a similar case in Karachi and has reignited concerns over the dangers of keeping exotic pets in city neighborhoods.
In response, the Punjab government has launched a widespread crackdown on illegal private ownership of wild animals.