‘Purr-petrator’ who took a lioness on car ride gets bail

A man who took his pet lioness for a ride in the back of a pickup truck in Federal B Area obtained bail for Rs20,000 on Thursday.

Saqlain Javed was arrested in an overnight night on his house in Block 13 of Federal B Area after footage from startled bystanders went viral. 

Gulberg SP Bashir Ahmed Brohi, who led a police team during the raid, said the big cat’s owner was arrested because his licence to keep the animal had expired.

In the video posted on social media, the lioness can be seen reclining in the bed of the truck, a paw lolling over the ledge and seemingly unfazed by the heavy traffic inching through a chaotic street on Wednesday night.

Pedestrians jostling through the cars stumble into clawing ranging but the lion -- which is wearing a collar and a leash held by a man in the vehicle -- just yawns.

In the video a woman can be heard asking: "Who will take responsibility if something were to happen?" and wondering whether the animal is an endangered breed.

The clip has been viewed over one million times on Facebook, where people criticised the owner for cruelty and suggested he was showing off his wealth.

Others decried the general lawlessness that exists in the fast-growing country of 200 million, where despite recent economic and security gains, the rich and powerful are able to commit crimes with impunity.

Action was taken against Javed, a pet dealer in his 30s, after a concerned citizen made a complaint at Azizabad Police Station, saying that he created fear among the people. 

In the courtroom, the owner was charged with public harassment.

The investigation officer told the judge that the case was registered against Javed for having driven with a dangerous animal that could harm people. 

Sub Inspector Nasir Awan, who lodged the case, said driving with a lion was a very dangerous act and a great threat to the lives of citizens.

Javed, however, was not without an excuse and said he was taking the animal to
the vet and had all the required permits and documentation.

His lawyer argued that the case registered against his client was bailable and he deserved to be granted bail as he had all necessary documents permitting him to keep animals. 

“We have freed the accused on bail but registered a case of negligent conduct with an animal,” Muqadas Haider, a senior police officer said.