Duo arrested after minor boy mauled by ‘pet’ lion in Karachi

KARACHI: Two suspects have been booked on gross negligence after a 10-year-old boy was mauled by a pet lion in Gulberg Block 11 of Sindh capital.

The move comes a week after the incident occurred. The CCTV footage of the attack, which apparently took place on May 14, had gone viral, questioning lawlessness in the country’s financial capital.

It can be seen in the viral clip that the lion owner, brought the four-legged carnivore out of the premises when the lion abruptly jumped on the minor boy who stands next to him. Following the deadly attack, the owner and other passersby can be seen pulling the wild carnivore from the child. Later, the owner took the lion to their farmhouse.

The injured boy, who is identified as Abdul Nafay, was then rushed to the nearest medical facility. According to the reports, the boy suffered injuries on the abdomen and leg however he was reportedly out of danger as he luckily didn’t get any fatal injury.

Meanwhile, a security guard, Roshan Khan, and the other man, Saad Aslam, is held for now while the owner of the big cat, who is identified as Usama, is still on the run.

The local news channel quoted the law enforcers that the owner didn’t hold any permit to keep the lion while he is allegedly involved in the illegal sale and breeding of wild animals. Gulberg police have booked all suspects involved in the incident while further proceedings are underway.

Meanwhile, Sindh Wildlife Department has also taken action after the matter was covered by national media. Let it be known that possession of any wild animal, including these big cats, is a criminal act under Sindh Wildlife Protection Act 2020. Any person violating the act can be sent to jail for six months.

In recent times, the trend of keeping wild animals especially lions is a way to flex influence in the elite in the south Asian country. The import of these deadly beasts has seen a rise after the government permitted to keep these animals around 20 years ago.

More than 300 lions are estimated to be lurking around gardens, rooftop cages, and farmhouses in Sindh capital, a report of the international newspaper reads.