‘They just wanted to live and we failed them’: Netizens furious after Lahore pet market demolished

Shopkeepers say the pre-dawn operation resulted in many animals being buried alive; LDA denies any animals harmed.

Updated 08 Nov, 2025

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) launched on Wednesday a pre-dawn raid on an illegally constructed pet market near Lahore’s famous Data Darbar shrine. According to shopkeepers, the demolition resulted in the deaths of many cats, dogs and birds that were buried alive under the rubble.

While an LDA official denied any animals were harmed in the demolition and the authority has since posted clips of its staff purportedly removing cages from the market, prominent Lahore-based animal welfare organisations, Todd’s Welfare Society and JFK Animal Rescue and Shelter, posted videos from the site of the incident showing people pulling out animals — both dead and alive — from beneath the rubble.

Netizens were horrified after seeing videos from the demolition site, calling the action “cruel” and “inhumane”.

Enraged users on X asked how this could have been allowed to happen and what it says about us as a society.

Some people turned to the provincial government for justice, asking Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take action against the officials responsible.

Others said she shared some of the blame as the LDA chairperson. Netizens, including notable rights activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Junior, said the chief minister only cared about animals when it came time to impress foreign dignitaries — Maryam is currently in Brazil as part of Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference COP30.

Celebrities also decried the situation, with actor Zhalay Sarhadi and RJ Anoushey Ashraf posting stories on Instagram expressing their utter disbelief at the cruelty.

Sarhadi called for action against the perpetrators, saying, “This kind of senseless cruelty is only inhumane”.

Cover photo by M Arif Ali/ White Star

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Comments

Laila Nov 07, 2025 08:27pm

A country that doesn't value or respect its humans population, particularly females, doesnt give two hoots about its animals. Quelle surprise. I understand doing a raid but knowingly and deliberately demolishing a structure, which contains living animals is murder? That's evil. Sadly in Corrupt Republic Of Pakistan nobody will be held accountable let alone punished for this grave sin and great crime. Just when you think you have seen it all, some people hit a a new low. It's heartbreaking. Those poor animals. Shame on people standing buy doing nothing. As usual. Where is our islam now?

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Akhtar Nov 07, 2025 08:48pm

Land mafia is very active in lahore, any action against illegal constructions is protracted as inhumane.

Imtiaz Shallwani Nov 07, 2025 10:29pm

No value for lives whether human or animal.

Allan DeSouza Nov 07, 2025 11:49pm

Throw all responsible for this in jail for 10 years. The inhumane people need to be taught a lesson.

zahid Nov 08, 2025 01:05am

unfortunately this is not the only incident of thuggery we are witnessing all over pakistan. evil will triumph when the good remain silent

Tahmad Nov 08, 2025 02:59am

So sad and unthinkable, let’s find out who is behind all this injustice middle of the night.

Rizwan Nov 08, 2025 07:31am

Such tweets tell more about these people's state of mind than LDA. Too much negative thinking and bad auras. They seem to find negativity in everything.

Anonymouseee Nov 08, 2025 11:56am

Not sure who to believe. There are liars everywhere.

Zainab Nov 08, 2025 12:48pm

Shame on the city's Lahore Development Authority. Such isn't the act of an entity for development. It's thoughtless, tyrannical regression! As a heartfelt pet lover, this story leaves me devastated, stunned, in pain and tears. Having a market for adopting pets is such a wonderful idea. How could any human being with a heart conceive of such destruction? Is the world 'learning' from Zionism?!

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 08, 2025 02:06pm

What a gigantic, gruesome, grisly, grim, grave and great tragedy under the watch of those who fraudulently call themselves animal lovers?

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 08, 2025 02:36pm

Shame on LDA and its 'movers and shakers,' wherever or whosoever they are. Why can't they know, realize, comprehend and understand that even animals, birds and bugs have rights which people like them can't ignore, put aside or plunder the way they have done. We urge the 'Lahore High Court' to take Suo Motu against the perpetrators and all those LDA people and their superiors responsible for this horrible act against animals and their keepers and protectors. The pictures tell the whole story of what actually happened at the Pet Market in Lahore recently.

Dawn Images