November 11, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
Lahore
In a landmark move for animal welfare and environmental justice, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has taken serious notice of a recent incident where the destruction of an illegal pet market left hundreds of animals dead. The high court has directed the Punjab Wildlife Department to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days over the demolition of Lahore’s Bhaati Chowk pet market, which led to the deaths of hundreds of caged birds and animals.
The directive came while hearing Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan v. Government of Punjab (W.P. No. 66492/2025), a petition filed by animal and environmental rights lawyer Advocate Altamush Saeed, after the incident triggered nationwide outrage.
Public outrage
The demolition, carried out by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) at dawn near Data Darbar (Walled City), drew anger and disbelief as eyewitnesses accused authorities of tearing down the structures while animals were still trapped inside. Shopkeepers claim that dozens of birds, rabbits, cats, and other pets were buried alive under the rubble.
A visitor to the site expressed his shock at the incident.
“I understand that the government might have given notices to the shopkeepers here, but when it comes to animals and birds who were buried alive under the rubble, this is sheer violence,” he said. “Before demolishing any area, authorities must ensure the safety of all living beings. The birds and animals could have been relocated first. We appreciate the government’s development work, but what happened here with the animals is unacceptable.”
He added that the shopkeepers whose shops had been destroyed should also be compensated.
Rescuing the voiceless
Umair Ali, who has been rescuing animals injured during the demolition, described the harrowing scenes at the site.
“I have been here day and night to rescue the animals trapped under the rubble,” he said. “I rescued some kittens from here, one of them died, but I am taking care of the others who were also injured badly in the process.”
Ali added that he has also buried several animals and birds killed during the operation. His efforts, driven purely by compassion, highlight the overlooked suffering of animals amid urban development and demolition drives.
The images of lifeless and injured animals sparked widespread outrage on social media, with activists and citizens demanding accountability from the authorities responsible. What began as an act of demolition quickly turned into a test of conscience for those who knew, and ultimately caught the attention of the High Court.
No prior notice given
Voicepk spoke to Moeen Ghauri, vice chairman of the Bhaati Chowk pet market, who said:
“There were a total of 160 shops here, two hotels and the rest pet shops filled with animals and birds in cages. LDA came at 4 a.m., before dawn, and started demolishing everything. People begged them for time, cried in front of them, but they did not listen. We even had a meeting scheduled with the Deputy Commissioner later that day, but the demolition happened before it.”
Ghauri claimed that the LDA killed “thousands of animals and birds” and then began removing debris to conceal the evidence.
“They have not given us any notices,” he said, showing Voicepk the rent receipts he regularly paid to the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department.
Junaid, a shopkeeper whose store was among those demolished, said that no authority had informed them in advance.
“We did not get time to remove our pets. No one from the Wildlife Department came to rescue the animals, the government is lying,” he says. “The LDA just cleared two shops for show and claimed relocation, but in reality, they didn’t move animals from the other 150 shops. I’ve lost around 25 to 30 lakh rupees,” he told Voicepk.
He added, “I haven’t told my children yet. I don’t know how I’ll feed them now. They didn’t just destroy our livelihoods, they killed voiceless beings who couldn’t escape their cages. There were dead cats, rabbits, ducklings, Australian lovebirds, and parrots under the rubble. I filmed everything. When we exposed it, the LDA began removing the bodies.”
A widow, whose late husband ran one of the demolished shops, told Voicepk through tears,
“I have daughters to feed, this was our only source of income. They didn’t even inform us. Our birds and animals were killed; speechless beings crushed under their cages.”
‘They threatened me when I resisted’
Saleem Iqbal, chairman of the Bhaati Chowk pet market, called it a tragedy.
“I was there when it happened. I pleaded with them to give us time to take our things out, but they came at 4 a.m. When I resisted, they threatened me, saying what happened in Muridke could happen here too,” he said.
He added that their community had been renting from the Auqaf Department since before Partition.
“We were first moved outside Data Darbar in 1988 during construction, and were promised relocation inside once the complex was complete. That never happened. For months, authorities told us our businesses wouldn’t be affected, but they deceived us, removing us without notice and killing all the animals and birds.”
Landmark court order and directives
Justice Shahram Sarwar has ordered the Punjab Wildlife Department to treat the petition as a formal representation and decide the matter within 30 days. The court has directed the department to submit a comprehensive report outlining the details and causes of the incident, along with a clear plan of action to prevent similar deaths in the future.
The order further calls for criminal proceedings against those responsible for the negligence that led to the tragedy. In addition, the court has emphasized the need for education and sensitization modules for government departments, aimed at fostering empathy and responsibility toward animals and the environment.
Justice Sarwar’s directives carry a strong warning, failure to comply will result in contempt proceedings, ensuring that accountability is not optional.
‘Entirely preventable’
Speaking to Voicepk, Advocate Altamush Saeed said he learned of the demolition the morning it occurred and immediately initiated legal action.
“We sent legal notices to the LDA and the Wildlife Department on November 6, but neither responded. The LDA hid the evidence. What they did violated not just the rights of 149 shopkeepers but the basic rights of the animals that were buried alive, something that could have been completely avoided,” he said.
“All the LDA had to do was coordinate with the Wildlife Department, the only competent authority under law. LDA has no jurisdiction to deal with animals. That’s why we have specialized departments. But they acted outside their domain, without expertise or empathy.”
Saeed said the Wildlife Department was never involved, despite the LDA’s social media claims of having relocated the animals.
“Even if they did, how did they do it legally? It’s not their mandate. We’re asking the court to establish the truth, why and how this happened, and to ensure it never happens again.”
He emphasized the larger moral and educational dimensions of the tragedy:
“We need to understand that we are all connected, animals, humans, and nature. Compassion should be part of our education system. Our youth are already driving change, and I hope this effort will ensure that no such cruelty happens again.”
A moral turning point for animal rights
The case marks a historic moment for Pakistan’s animal welfare movement. For the first time, the Punjab Wildlife Department has been formally empowered and obligated to investigate, report, and act on an incident of mass animal death caused by state negligence.
The forthcoming report will determine accountability, and, as Saeed puts it, “the truth will set everyone free.”
Towards compassion and accountability
The demolition at Bhaati Chowk has sparked a deeper conversation about how Pakistan’s cities treat their most vulnerable animals who share our urban spaces yet remain invisible in policymaking. While the Lahore High Court’s directives mark an important step toward justice and institutional responsibility, animal welfare activists insist that laws alone are not enough.
They argue that empathy must become part of governance, not an afterthought. For many like Umair Ali, who spent days rescuing and burying injured animals, the incident is a painful reminder that development without compassion is destruction in disguise.