CORRECTS - On Eid al-Adha eve, ‘barbaric’ landlord chops camel’s leg in Pakistan, triggers outrage

CORRECTS 5th PARA, ADDS INFORMATION

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - On the eve of Muslim festival of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, Pakistanis were left numb when they found a “barbaric” landlord had chopped right leg of a camel, triggering widespread outcry.

At least six persons have been arrested after the “painful” and “horrible” incident took place in Sanghar district of southeastern Sindh province of Pakistan.

Pakistan will observe the festival of sacrifice on Monday.

According to Sorath Sindhu, whose X accounts identifies her as a doctor, a man had amputated the leg of a camel because “this herbivore was seen eating in his field.”

The incident happened on Friday in Mund Jamrao village of the district.

Pictures shared by Sindhu showed someone, apparently the owner, holding what appears to be the right front leg of the camel.

“This is not just abuse against an animal but also reflects the mindset of a person who is utterly unsuitable to be part of society,” Sindhu said on X, which snowballed into a widespread discussion among netizens.

X is blocked in Pakistan since February this year.

“A Sadistic barbarian who can demonstrate such cruelty towards an animal, belongs behind bars,” said Maleeka Ali Bokhari, legal expert and a former lawmaker from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

In another brief statement on Sunday, Sindhu said: “This poor creature has been shifted to an animal safe house in Karachi, and arrangements are being made for a prosthetic leg.”

“Humanity still exists somewhere, and there is hope,” said the doctor on X.

Anny Marri, a former Pakistani senator, said Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) had stepped in and helped to shift the injured camel to Karachi.

“Sadly, the owner settled for a quick pay day, despite us trying to convince him otherwise (sic),” said Marri, suggesting owner of the camel had accepted offer of the landlord who cut the leg of the animal.

The camel belonged to Soomer Khan, who has reportedly refused to name the landlord.

Shazia Atta Marri, who represents Sanghar electoral seat in the country’s parliament, called the incident “horrible and painful.”

“Have learnt that both sides have compromised,” Marri said, triggering a chain reaction with netizens questioning how speechless camel could “compromise” which is the victim in this case.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir remarked in a social media post on Saturday that the influential landlord’s name was not known yet despite reporting of the incident in the media.