Mahatma Gandhi may have had his share of faults, but he was certainly correct about one thing: The moral fibre of a society is best gauged by how we treat our animals. If this quote is taken as a yardstick, then the administration of DHA, Lahore, stands hollow of any morals, for its maltreatment of an ostrich, encaged amongst the jungle of men, simply to amuse the kids of nouveau rich of DHA.
In a more civilised society, it would be treated as criminal negligence and the retired khakis would have been prosecuted, but not here. In a country where human rights situation is termed abysmally alarming, animal rights simply do not matter.
I would like to thank Pakistan Today for bringing out the story of a poor ostrich and dedicating a half-page story on the animals plight. Now it is up to us animal lovers and animal welfare societies to rescue the bird, which is in dire need of our help from the callous clutches of DHA, Lahores administration.
TAIMOOR ASHRAF
Lahore
