Aseefa Zardari condemns culling of stray dogs in Karachi
Karachi officials poisoned at least 700 stray dogs in an effort to curb population of strays, an action that has drawn criticism from various circles
August 05, 2016
KARACHI: Aseefa Zardari on Thursday condemned the poisoning of hundreds of stray dogs in Karachi carried out by the municipality in a bid to curb population of strays in the city.
Aseefa, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, spoke out against the act on Twitter.
I am extremely angry about this ! "Hundreds of stray dogs poisoned in Pakistani city of Karachi" https://t.co/FvBqpIhgSK via @Reuters
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) August 4, 2016
Pakistan People's Party MPA Sharmila Farooqi also took notice of the culling, tweeting that she had managed to move a private bill in Sindh assembly entitled “The Welfare & Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of Sindh 2016”.
Moved my 11th private Bill in Sindh assembly.. The welfare & prevention of cruelty to animals Act 2016 Sindh pic.twitter.com/pgZeDx0YRT
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) August 5, 2016
Sharmila credited Aseefa Zardari as being the inspiration and driving force behind the bill.
I would like to give all credit to @AseefaBZ 4 the reason 4 moving this bill,she's been the voice&the driving inspirational force behind it
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) August 5, 2016
Aseefa is a human and animal rights activist and frequently raises her voice against incidents of animal cruelty.
Earlier this week she tweeted about a cat she had rescued.
happy with his Mew Home.He is a special little guy i rescued. Could he be #LarryTheCat of Pakistan? https://t.co/Xlj2XfKyIa
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) August 3, 2016
She has also in the past spoken up about Kaavan, a behaviourally-challenged elephant in Islamabad Zoo who had been kept in solitary confinement and chained around all four legs by the zoo management for years.
Karachi officials recently started an operation citywide to cull thousands of stray dogs using poison tablets hidden in meat. The action has drawn criticism from animal rights activists, but city authorities claim it is necessary to protect residents.
Karachi's Jinnah Hospital treated 6,500 people bitten by dogs and has seen 3,700 cases so far this year, according to Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the emergency room.
