LAHORE:
Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik has called for “strict punishment” for those involved in animal cruelty, stressing that rabies must be controlled, but not by culling dogs.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day International Conference on Animal Rights and Environment held at a local hotel in Lahore on Saturday, Justice Ayesha highlighted the need for strong measures to ensure the animal welfare.
The session, attended by global experts, environmental activists, lawyers and volunteers, aimed to highlight various aspects of animal rights and the environment.
In her speech, Justice Ayesha advocated for “effective measures” to protect and ensure the welfare of animals in Pakistan. He noted that animals are a crucial part of the ecosystem and praised organizations working for animal rights, acknowledging their commendable steps.
However, the judge noted that Pakistan’s animal welfare index needed significant improvement and called for the development and enforcement of regulations to combat animal cruelty. “Strict punishment for cruelty to animals is essential,” he said.
Justice Ayesha also noted that the relationship between humans and animals was a natural creation. “Just as humans have basic rights such as access to food, clean air and water, these rights are equally essential for animals,” he said.
Referring to the controversial culling of stray dogs, Justice Ayesha noted that during the court proceedings, the authorities had not specified the law under which such actions were authorized.
He condemned the justification for killing dogs due to rabies, stating that while the disease must be controlled, the approach should not involve killing the dogs.
“Instead of addressing rabies in stray dogs, efforts are being directed toward culling them,” he said.
Justice Ayesha also noted the alarming conditions at Lahore’s Tollinton market and expressed dismay at the mistreatment of animals there. He stressed the need for a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard animal rights, pointing out the lack of a regulatory body to oversee their welfare.
He stated that animals deserved to be free from thirst and suffering.
In her speech, Justice Ayesha suggested the establishment of one or more animal welfare regulatory bodies, highlighting that committees focused on the environment and disaster management rarely took animal rights into account.
The organizer of the conference, lawyer Altamush Saeed, founder of the Animal Rights and Environmental Organization, commented that animals in Pakistan were subjected to extreme cruelty.
