Lahore (Agencies) July 4, 2025 — A pet lion, illegally kept at a private farmhouse in Lahore’s Johar Town, escaped its enclosure and attacked a family, leaving two children and a woman seriously injured. The victims were rushed to Jinnah Hospital, where the children remain in critical condition.
According to police and wildlife officials, the lion leapt over a wall from an unsecured cage and mauled the victims in a nearby street. The owner, identified as Malik Azam Murtaza alias Shani, was keeping the wild animal without a valid license or proper containment measures—both violations of the Punjab Wildlife Act.
Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Murtaza and two other suspects, including Malik Behram and Malik Ghulam Murtaza, under charges of attempted murder and illegal wildlife possession. The lion was captured by the Punjab Wildlife Department and relocated to a secure facility.
DIG Operations Faisal Kamran took immediate notice of the case and ordered strict action, stating that public safety cannot be compromised for private entertainment. The Wildlife Department confirmed that keeping a lion without a license is a non-bailable offense, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of PKR 5 million.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over the trend of exotic pet ownership in urban Pakistan. Officials urge citizens to report illegal wildlife possession via the Wildlife Helpline 1107 to help prevent future tragedies.