Losses worth millions were reported by shopkeepers as Lahore Development Authority (LDA) razed a pet market in Lahore, allegedly killing or injuring hundreds of animals locked up inside – a claim rubbished by officials.
According to reports, Lahore’s famous Bird Market near the shrine of the famous saint Ali al-Hajveri, commonly known as Data Darbar, was bulldozed to the ground during the wee hours of Wednesday.
Business owners accused authorities of carrying out the operation without prior notice, claiming that hundreds of pets were buried under the rubble as a result.
They said they had earlier been informed that the site would be cleared to construct a bus stand for Data Darbar, however, “no notice was given prior to demolition” despite a meeting with LDA officials for clearance of outstanding dues, rent and utility bills amid negotiations.
The market, which reports said housed at least 165 shops, had been operating for decades since then-Punjab chief minister (CM) Nawaz Sharif’s government allotted the land back in 1992, shopkeepers said.
Reports quoted one shopkeeper as claiming that they requested a few hours to collect their earnings and relocate the animals, but officials ignored their plea and began the demolition immediately.
Viral videos on social media also showed several shopkeepers recovering animals, including birds and cats, from the rubble.
The visuals were also shared by animal rights groups who criticised the authorities over the action.
“At 4 am Lahore Develop Authority (LDA) demolished the pet and bird market without warning. Thousands of innocent cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, were buried alive under the rubble. Shopkeepers begged them to spare the animals. But the bulldozers continued to kill all in their path [sic],” Todd’s Welfare Society (TWS) said in a post on X.
Tahira Animal Welfare Foundation (TAWF) said authorities had the right to demolish the market if it was built illegally, but could have relocated the animals first.
“Last night, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) did something no one with a heart could ever justify. They demolished the bird and pet market in Lahore — and with it, buried thousands of innocent lives alive. If the market was built illegally, demolish it — but move the tiny lives first,” the group said in a post on X.
“Those cats, dogs, birds, and rabbits were not criminals. They were living, breathing beings who depended on humans for mercy. Islam teaches that taking one innocent life is like killing all of humanity. Yet, they buried countless souls without a second thought. Can anyone imagine if nature takes revenge and buries us alive the same way? We’ve already seen signs — horrific earthquakes and floods that remind us of how powerless we are before the Creator. Have we learned nothing? Where is our humanity?”
TAWF went on to say that the cries of the helpless beings still echoed, and silence made people a part of the cruelty. “Please speak up. Raise your voice for the voiceless before we lose the right to ask for mercy ourselves.”
Amid widespread outrage, reports quoted LDA officials as saying that the shops had been built unlawfully at 16-kanal state land that was included in the Bhati Chowk remodeling project aiming to get rid of the constant traffic mess and increasing noise and dust pollution in the area.
“There are no reports of birds killed during operation as the shopkeepers had already taken out all of them and other goods from their shops. And if they have any solid proof, show us,” a spokesperson said.
