LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab livestock department to decide an application seeking a declaration that deaths of animals and birds during an ‘anti-encroachment’ operation against a bird market at Bhati Chowk was illegal and amounted to cruelty.

Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry passed the order disposing of a public interest petition filed by an NGO, registered in the name of renowned Urdu poet Shohrat Bokhari and his wife Farkhanda Bokhari.

Barrister Maqsooma Zahra Bokhari appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) carried out an inhumane demolition operation against the alleged illegally established bird market.

She pointed out that the bulldozers of the LDA killed a large number of animals and birds.

She pointed out that the members of the civil society and animal lovers had been trying to rescue some of the animals roaming and hiding, but the authorities sealed the market area.

The counsel argued that the authorities were morally, ethically and legally bound to ensure the safety of the animals before carrying out the operation.

She asked the court to declare that the deaths of the animals and birds during the ‘anti-encroachment’ operation were unlawful under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1890 and several provisions of the Constitution.

The counsel further asked the court to restrain the authorities from removing the rubble from the scene and form a commission to hold an inquiry into the killings of the animals and birds.

After hearing the argument, Justice Chaudhry disposed of the petition and directed the livestock department to treat it as an application and decide within four weeks.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025