In recent days, operations have been conducted in Sultan Colony, Township, Shadbagh, Green Town, other areas
Dogs were gathered in a truck during an operation in Lahore. — SCREEN GRAB
LAHORE:
A renewed campaign by the Municipal Corporation Lahore (MCL) against stray dogs has sparked controversy, with animal rights activists claiming that dogs are being killed through poisonous injections and other inhumane methods in various parts of the city, while protesters are also facing legal action and harassment.
In recent days, operations have been conducted against stray dogs in Sultan Colony, Township, Shadbagh, Green Town and several other localities. According to the district administration and MCL officials, the actions were initiated following complaints from residents and incidents of dog attacks.
The administration launched a large-scale operation after a child was killed in Sultan Colony a few days ago and claimed that several stray dogs had been caught during the campaign. Officials said the purpose of the operation was to ensure the safety of citizens and protect lives and property.
However, animal welfare organizations and activists described the operations as illegal and inhumane. They argued that under the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021 and court directives, stray dogs should be sterilized and vaccinated instead of being killed.
Animal rights activist Fasiha Khan claimed in an Instagram post that stray dogs were being poisoned in Lahore and called for an immediate halt to the campaign.
Similarly, Critters Ark Welfare Organization Pakistan claimed on May 6 that animal rights activists protesting outside the Lahore Town Hall were taken into custody.
Animal welfare activist Syed Ali Haider alleged that the MCL staff had locked dozens of dogs, including puppies, inside a van and intended to kill them. He said he urged the administration to hand over the animals to shelters instead of killing them, but after the protest, a case was registered against him at the Islampura police station on charges of interference in official duties.
He further claimed that he was told that the case could be withdrawn if he gave an affidavit not to protest the issue of stray dogs in the future.
Another social media post circulated on May 10 alleged that nearly 100 stray dogs were killed in and around Sultan Colony.
Meanwhile, hearings regarding the implementation of the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021 were also held at the Lahore High Court last month. On April 14, government departments assured the court that measures would be adopted in line with the policy to control the stray dog population and that large-scale killings would be avoided.
MCL officials rejected the claims of animal rights activists and maintained that the operations were conducted in accordance with the law and public safety requirements. According to officials, immediate action was sometimes necessary in cases involving dangerous or sick dogs, while public safety remained the top priority.
Experts and animal welfare organizations said the long-term solution to the stray dog problem lies in large-scale sterilization, vaccination, improved waste management and pet registration. They argued that cull campaigns provided only temporary relief and often failed to address the root causes of the problem.
