Police and wildlife authorities arrested a man in Lahore’s Shah Di Khui area on Friday after his pet lion escaped and attacked a family.
Officials identified the owner as Malik Bahram, son of Malik Nazim, who kept the lion without a legal license.
Authorities registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him under sections of the Wildlife Act and attempted murder.
Police also named other suspects in the case, including Malik Azam Shani and Malik Ghulam Murtaza, for their roles in the incident.
The incident occurred at a farmhouse in Johar Town, where the lion broke free from an unsecured enclosure, leaped over a wall, and mauled residents in a nearby street before fleeing.
The injured victims were rushed to Jinnah Hospital for treatment; two children remain in critical condition. Punjab Wildlife Department confiscated the lion and transferred it to a sanctuary.
The Wildlife Department emphasized that keeping a lion without a license is a non-bailable offense, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs 5 million.
Officials urged citizens to report any illegal wild animal ownership by calling the Wildlife Helpline at 1107.
This attack follows a similar recent case in Karachi, raising concerns about the dangers of exotic pet ownership in residential areas.
The Punjab government has announced a province-wide crackdown on illegal private ownership of wild animals.
