Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Orders Province-Wide Ban on Keeping Big Cats After Pet Lion Attacks in Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the immediate withdrawal of legal permission for keeping big cats as pets across Punjab after a series of pet lion attacks in Lahore left two children critically injured. The decision was taken in response to growing public safety concerns and repeated incidents linked to negligence and illegal handling of wild animals.

Last week, an eight-year-old boy, Wajid Ali, was attacked by a pet lion in Lahore’s Sabzazar area. Police reported that the incident occurred due to poor enclosure arrangements and lack of safety measures. The attack resulted in severe injuries, and doctors were forced to amputate the child’s arm to save his life. Authorities further revealed that the lion’s owner attempted to conceal the incident by falsely claiming the injury was caused by a machine-related accident.

In a separate incident, an eight-year-old girl was attacked by a pet lioness in Lahore’s Bhekewal Pind area. The animal was being illegally transported in an auto-rickshaw when it reportedly became agitated, escaped, and injured the child. The incident highlighted serious violations of wildlife laws and unsafe transportation practices.

Following these back-to-back incidents, the Punjab government has moved to ban the private keeping of big cats throughout the province. The chief minister’s directive aims to prevent further harm, strengthen enforcement of wildlife regulations, and ensure public safety by ending the practice of keeping dangerous wild animals as pets.