Animal Lovers Outraged Over Lahore Pet Market Demolishment

LAHORE (Nov 6, 2025) — A sudden overnight anti-encroachment operation by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and allied departments has left one of the city’s oldest and best-known pet and bird markets near Data Darbar in ruins. The move, carried out before dawn on November 5, has provoked a wave of anger among traders, animal lovers, and welfare organizations across Pakistan.

What was once a bustling corner of Lahore’s old city — filled with cages of chirping parrots, rabbits, cats, and songbirds — now lies in heaps of rubble and twisted wire. Viral videos from the scene show shopkeepers crying and pleading as bulldozers razed stalls and cages without warning.

“They didn’t even let us take our animals out. The birds were alive when the bulldozers started! They buried them under concrete,” shouted one distraught trader in a video that has been shared thousands of times online.

Operation Details: “Illegal Encroachments” or Sudden Crackdown?

According to official statements, the LDA, in coordination with TEPA, the Auqaf Department, and the police, launched the demolition as part of the Data Darbar and Bhatti Chowk remodeling and expansion project.

Authorities claim the drive cleared 16 kanals of state-owned land illegally occupied by over 165 shops. An LDA spokesperson, speaking to BBC Urdu, described the operation as “lawful and necessary,” asserting that “multiple eviction notices” had been issued to traders well in advance.

However, traders insist otherwise. “This market was demolished overnight without a single notice or chance to save our animals,” said Adil Munir, a senior trader and member of the Circular Road Board. “We have been operating here for decades — suddenly, they came at night with bulldozers.”

Conflicting Accounts of Animal Welfare

The most explosive claims revolve around the alleged deaths of hundreds of animals trapped inside cages during the demolition. Shopkeepers allege that birds, cats, and rabbits were crushed or suffocated under debris.

Witnesses posted heart-wrenching clips of broken cages and injured animals being pulled from the wreckage. Some traders claim they managed to rescue only a handful of their animals, while others lost everything.

In contrast, the LDA denies all allegations of cruelty or negligence, calling the reports “baseless and exaggerated.” The agency shared its own videos showing officials purportedly helping traders move animals into trucks before the operation began.

“All animals were safely evacuated before demolition,” the spokesperson said, adding that “misinformation is being spread on social media to malign the authorities.”

Despite these denials, the visual evidence circulating online continues to inflame public sentiment.

Nationwide Outcry and Legal Demands

Animal welfare groups have condemned the demolition in the strongest terms. The TADS Welfare Society, one of Lahore’s leading animal-rescue organizations, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it would pursue legal action against LDA officials.

“This was a heartless and inhumane operation,” TADS wrote. “We will ensure accountability for every life lost and every animal harmed.”

Other organizations, including PAWS (Pakistan Animal Welfare Society) and Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation, have joined calls for an independent investigation, emphasizing the need for humane protocols during urban development projects.

Public outrage has spilled across social media, where hashtags such as #LahorePetMarket and #JusticeForAnimals have been trending since Friday morning. Many users have shared videos from the site, condemning what they see as “state-sponsored cruelty.”

Economic and Emotional Fallout

For the small traders who operated in the market, the losses are both emotional and financial. Many report losing animals worth millions of rupees, including exotic parrots, Persian cats, rabbits, and ornamental birds imported from abroad.

The market, a fixture of Lahore’s pet trade for decades, was also a popular destination for families and tourists. “This wasn’t just a business — it was our life’s work,” said Farooq Hassan, who ran a bird stall for 25 years. “I raised some of these birds from eggs. Now everything is gone.”

The emotional trauma among shopkeepers and animal rescuers is palpable, with volunteers still combing through debris days after the demolition, searching for surviving animals.

Wider Questions About Development and Ethics

The incident raises serious questions about how urban redevelopment projects are executed in densely populated heritage areas. While the LDA has defended its mandate to clear encroachments for infrastructure improvement, critics argue that a humane and transparent approach is essential, especially when living creatures are involved.

Urban planners and civic groups have also highlighted the need for consultation and notice periods to affected parties — a step that could have prevented both animal suffering and public backlash.

Legal experts say affected traders may have grounds to challenge the demolition in court, particularly if evidence supports claims of inadequate notice or negligence in protecting live animals.

The Road Ahead

As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to accountability and reform. The Punjab Wildlife Department has reportedly initiated a fact-finding inquiry, while animal welfare groups continue rescue and rehabilitation efforts for surviving pets.

For many Lahore residents, the tragedy has become a test of the city’s conscience: whether development can proceed without compassion, and whether the cries from the demolished market will lead to meaningful change in Pakistan’s animal welfare laws.

The overnight demolition of Lahore’s historic pet market has not only displaced dozens of traders but also ignited a national conversation on ethics, transparency, and compassion in urban development. Whether authorities or traders are ultimately vindicated, the haunting images of crushed cages and silenced birds will remain a stark reminder of what can happen when progress moves forward without empathy.