Lion manhandled during Maryam Nawaz’s rally rescued by Punjab Wildlife Dept

The Punjab Wildlife Department has rescued a lion that was being manhandled by supporters during Maryam Nawaz’s rally in Lahore on Thursday.

According to the Focal Person on Digital Media to CM Punjab Azhar Mashwani, the lion has been shifted to the zoo while the Wildlife Department has initiated legal action against five persons under the Wildlife Act.

pic.twitter.com/sTC6NIQFuW

— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) December 12, 2020

Further reports have suggested that authorities have also detained two PML-N supporters over the incident and fined them Rs 80,000.

The incident had sparked outrage on social media with netizens demanding the government take action against those involved in harassing the animal during the rally. Under the law, people are not allowed to own wild animals like lions without a permit. It is unclear whether those involved in the incident have one.

this ever growing trend.@PunjabWildlife regulations around wildlife breeding farms and mini zoos should also be tightened to make sure wild animals do not end up with wrong owners to suffer a lifetime of abuse.

— save the wild (@wildpakistan) December 11, 2020

This is not the first time a lion has been spotted at a PML-N rally. Earlier in 2018, a few months before the 2018 General Elections, members of the party brought a lion in a cage to the rally venue in Haripur where Nawaz Sharif addressed his supporters.

A lion at the PML-N's Haripur rally pic.twitter.com/SOT0dwpfaq

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 20, 2018

However, for today’s jalsa in Lahore, the PML-N has advised their supporters against bringing any animal. The spokesperson said that it is against the law and the party workers should not do any such thing.