Dubai: Amidst the election fever in Pakistan, an incident of animal abuse has taken over social media timelines in the country.
A donkey, that was severely injured, was handed to the animal rescue centre Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF) in Karachi, Pakistan on Monday. On their Facebook page and Twitter account, the nonprofit group informed its followers about the abuse this animal had endured at the hands of supporters of a political party, who tortured the animal after writing the name of a political opponent on its body.
In a detailed post, along with photographs of the animal, the group wrote: “With the upcoming elections looming upon us, no one is spared from the wrath this time...not even the most helpless of animals.”
The post went on to describe the condition the animal was found in: “Beaten to pulp, punched in the face and abdomen several times, nose broken, kicked all over his body until he collapsed, has rope marks and a car rammed into him...all of this to describe one political party as an “ass” by some hooligans as written on the poor donkey’s body.”
This has left social media users in the country shaken and furious at the same time.
Tweep @RationalPakhtun wrote: “What amazes me the most is how people, especially the less educated ones, go to such extremes in their love and idolisation or hate of a person. They have no sense of politics, yet they will die and kill for a party/leader.”
@Awazeshayeq tweeted: “It’s not about PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf], PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League — Nawaz] or PPP [Pakistan Peoples Party]. Jahalat (illiteracy) is everywhere. As a nation we are becoming selfish and self centred. Shame on us!”
Tweep @anthonypermal posted: “Pakistan, what is wrong with us? Sab baatein chorro (forget everything else), I’m reeling in shock and anger. This donkey was beaten, tortured by Pakistanis who put names of certain politicians and proceeded to beat it as mockery. ACF rescued it. This is who we have become. Jinnah’s worst nightmare.”
@YANITRICK added: “People often complain against the rulers. But, they do not want to correct their own behaviour and that’s why corrupt leaders are ruling over us. First we should fix ourselves.”
The animal rescue centre has refused to reveal the name of the political party, which was painted on the donkey’s body.
They wrote: “We have blurred out the names on the donkey’s body as we will not involve ourselves in this mess.”
However, there were some social media users who despite their post were urging them to name and shame the party and ask for an official apology from its leader.
@e_zaad tweeted: “Can you please name that political party... because the leader of this political party should condemn this act and ask their workers not to do that again.”
Many users just posted comments on both Facebook and Twitter to recognise the centre’s efforts and praise them for going out of their way to help an animal. Some even asked for an update.
Tweep @IrfanGeneration posted: “You guys are doing a great job, more power and my prayers are for you for what you are doing!”
@RabiaAfzal13 asked: “Please reply, is he safe? I am an animal lover and trying to find about his health.”
The group’s initial post has been shared over 7,000 times so far and to answer their followers’ questions, earlier this morning, the centre shared an update on the donkey, who they have named Hero.
They wrote in a Facebook post: “We have named him ‘Hero’ as it takes a true hero of the heart to stand quietly, collapse helplessly, and endure painfully as this donkey did. Hero is very critical right now and under constant observation, IV fluids and treatment. He couldn’t even stand on his own, we had to lift him. He wants to eat but his mouth is full of wounds.”
The post, which further describes the difficulties the animal is facing less than 24 hours after he was saved, was accompanied with a video of Hero, trying to eat.
All of this happened despite the presence of a law against animal abuse in the country. Pakistan has a century old law, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, and earlier this year, an amendment on it was passed, too. It strives to ensure stricter punishments for the protection of animals from human brutality and in January, the fines that were being imposed for animal cruelty were increased.
