Court Orders Wildlife Dept. to Act in Data Darbar Animal Massacre Case Within 30 Days

In another major victory for animal welfare in Pakistan, the Lahore High Court has taken a decisive stand for the country’s helpless animals. The Honorable Justice Shehram Sarwar, while hearing the case Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan v. Government of Punjab (W.P. No. 66492/2025), has ordered the Punjab Wildlife Department to take immediate action regarding the tragic Data Darbar Animal Massacre.

Under the court’s order, the Department has been instructed to treat the petition filed by Advocate Altamush Saeed as a formal representation, decide the matter within 30 days, and submit a comprehensive report detailing:

• The causes and circumstances behind the incident
• A concrete plan of action to prevent such tragedies in the future
• Criminal action against those responsible, and
• The introduction of educational and sensitization programs for government departments to promote empathy and responsibility toward animals and the environment.

Justice Shehram further ordered that if the Wildlife Department fails to comply, the matter may be brought back before the Court under contempt proceedings, ensuring accountability and enforcement.

For the first time ever, the Punjab Wildlife Department, the competent statutory authority, has been legally obligated to investigate, report, and take decisive measures to protect animals from such preventable harm. This could come as a major milestone for animal welfare in Pakistan.

The forthcoming report is expected to shed light on the truth behind the incident, which many have described as one of the darkest moments for animal welfare in Lahore.

Advocates emphasize that these deaths were entirely preventable; had the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) coordinated with the Wildlife Department, the animals could have been safely relocated instead of being killed. The tragedy, they say, serves as a somber reminder of the consequences when compassion and law are ignored.