In-focus

Rabi Pirzada likely to face jail term for keeping exotic animals

Dunya News

Keeping exotic animals including alligators, pythons and other reptiles is violation of Wildlife Act

LAHORE( Dunya News) – Punjab Wildlife Protection and Parks Department stated that actress-singer turned host Rabi Pirzada is likely to face two-year jail term over keeping exotic animals as pet at her salon in Lahore.

The Director-General of Wildlife Protection Sohail Ashraf said that the starlet often uploads photographs and videos of her exotic pet animals, including an alligator, four pythons and snakes , on social media, and keeping such animals is a violation of the law.

“Keeping exotic animals including alligators, pythons, snakes and other reptiles as pets were a violation of the Wildlife Act. These animals fall in the Third Schedule of the Wildlife Act, and no one could be issued a license for keeping them as pets,” said Ashraf as he spoke to media.

“[The] violator of the Act could face up to two-year imprisonment,” he added.

According to a local magazine website, this matter came into authorities’ attention after a video of Rabi Pirzada gained public attention on social media. In the video, singer-turned-host threatened Indian PM Modi, saying that the alligator, four pythons and snakes are “special gifts” for the Indian prime minister.

“I, a Kashmiri lady, is ready with her snakes for India. These gifts are for Modi actually. You are bothering Kashmiris so this is what I have prepared for you. So, get ready to die in hell, okay? And my friends [the exotic animals] would feast on you in hell,” she said.