Court orders probe into death of pet cat

KARACHI: An additional sessions judge in Karachi has directed the SSP (operations) Millar to conduct an investigation into the alleged death and disappearance of a pet cat from an animal care centre in Malir.

Last month, a petition was filed in the court by advocate Sadia Ghouri alleging that, on August 19, the family took their injured pet cat to a private animal care centre for treatment after it had suffered minor injuries to its leg.

According to Ghouri, when they went to receive their cat on August 21, they were denied access to the facility and were informed that their cat had died. Despite seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding their cat’s death, they received no satisfactory response, the petitioner said.

Ghouri filed a formal complaint against the private animal care centre known as ACF over the death of her cat.

The court has now tasked the SSP (operations) Millar to investigate the matter regardless of whether the cat was a pet or not and report back to the court promptly.

Additionally, the court has instructed the police to take appropriate actions in the light of the investigation’s findings.

On the other hand, the lawyer representing the private establishment, advocate Irfan Bhatta, said that the cat in question was not a pet and had been brought to ACF in a wounded condition for medical care. Bhatta contested that the petitioner’s claim that the cat was a pet was misleading.

Saadia Ghouri, who filed the complaint, had previously sought legal action against Ayesha Chandrigar, the owner of the private establishment working for animal rights.