LAHORE: A judicial magistrate at Model Town courts on Thursday acquitted singer Rabi Pirzada in a case of keeping wild reptiles at her house.

The singer through her counsel Hassan Khalid Ranjha had filed an acquittal application in the case.

The counsel for the singer argued that the petitioner did not violate any law, but the wildlife department implicated her in a fake case out of personal vendetta.

He said the department initiated proceedings against the singer and later obtained search warrants from the court.

Magistrate Haris Siddiqui allowed the application and acquitted the petitioner.

Ms Pirzada was also present in the court.

Talking to the media after her acquittal, the singer said she was ready to work for the protection of wildlife, in collaboration with the department.

Last year, wildlife department had filed a complaint, pleading that the singer committed violation of law by keeping a crocodile and a python at her house and salon.

It said Ms Pirzada admitted in a social media video that she had been keeping the reptiles for the last five years. It asked the court to summon the singer and order legal action against her.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020