A fresh video has emerged from Lahore showing the carcasses of stray dogs being transported near Harbanspura Ring Road, allegedly using vehicles associated with the Punjab Chief Minister's Suthra Punjab cleanliness programme. The footage, which has surfaced despite a Lahore High Court order banning the killing of stray dogs, shows dead animals being loaded onto vehicles linked to the initiative. In the video, a citizen is heard questioning an official about the court ban, to which the official allegedly responds that there is "no ban" and that "the government is carrying it out."
Court Orders and Government Assurances
The Lahore High Court had previously directed the Punjab government to implement the Punjab Animal Birth Control (TNVR) Policy 2021, which mandates a humane approach to managing stray dog populations through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR). During court proceedings, government officials assured the court that no culling would take place and that the policy would be followed. The court also warned that any violation could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
Repeated Allegations of Non-Compliance
Animal welfare organizations have repeatedly alleged that stray dogs continue to be killed in Lahore and other parts of Punjab despite the court's directions and the government's stated policy. The relevant authorities, however, have consistently denied such allegations. Animal rights activists also claim that incidents of stray dogs being allegedly killed have continued to surface in several private housing societies, raising further concerns over compliance with the court's orders and the provincial government's animal control policy.
TNVR Policy Background
The Punjab government introduced the TNVR Policy in 2021 as a humane alternative to culling. Under the policy, stray dogs are to be captured, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies, and released back into the same locality. The emergence of the latest video, however, suggests that the policy may not be fully implemented, and that culling may still be occurring despite official denials.
