The Punjab government has decided to revoke legal permission to keep wild cats as pets across the province. The move follows a lion attack that left an eight-year-old boy seriously injured in Lahore. Maryam Nawaz took immediate notice of the incident and ordered strict action.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the attack took place at a farmhouse in Lahore’s Sabzazar area. The victim, identified as Wajid, lost an arm after a lion attacked him while he played near a cage. This marked the second such incident in Lahore within two days.
Aurangzeb said the chief minister ordered action against the farm’s owners for trying to conceal the incident. Authorities accused them of giving incomplete information to hospital staff.
Punjab Chief Minister has abolished the law on keeping lions as pets. In the future, strict legal action will be taken against anyone who keeps a lion as a pet. pic.twitter.com/o3aU3Jgwhj
— Muhammad Sheikh (@s4iqbal) January 26, 2026Police arrested the suspects and registered a case. Investigators said the owner pressured the child’s parents to present a false account of events. CM Maryam Nawaz expressed sympathy with the child and his family. She directed officials to ensure full medical care.
Doctors treated the boy at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Hospital officials confirmed that surgeons amputated the child’s arm due to severe injuries. They said his condition has since stabilised and he is out of danger.
لاہور میں 8 سالہ بچی پر شیرنی کا حملہ#LionessAttack #LionAttack #LionAttackInLahore #WildlifeAttack #WildAnimal #Lahore pic.twitter.com/bfiS7021Q4
— UrduPoint اردوپوائنٹ (@DailyUrduPoint) January 22, 2026In response, the Punjab government decided to remove the clause that allows private ownership of wild cats from the Punjab Wildlife Act.
Read: Pet Lioness Attacks Eight-Year-Old Girl in Lahore, Owners Arrested
Officials said the change aims to prevent future incidents and strengthen public safety. Police said the incident occurred due to an unsafe cage and the owner’s negligence. The child approached the enclosure while playing at the farmhouse.
Authorities stressed that wild animals pose serious risks when kept in residential or private settings.
