Islamabad: The caretaker of a Pakistani house of worship unleashed his pet lion on an electrician who was trying to collect late payment, local police said. The incident allegedly took place in September. The attacker, identified as Ali Raza, was the caretaker of Imambargah Sada-e-Imam Hussain, a seminary in Pakistan's Shahdra in Punjab province. According to local reports, the electrician, Mohammad Rafique, had been hired to render certain services at the Imambargah. When the work was over, Raza allegedly delayed payment for several days. On September 9, when the discussion got too heated after the electrician insisted on payment, Raza allegedly set his pet lion on him.
The victim did not immediately file legal charges because the caretaker promised to get him treatment and pay him compensation. A month passed and the caretaker received neither, so he decided to file a police report. Raza has been booked under attempt to murder charges. As per the victim's account, Raza and two others merely stood there and watched while the lion mauled Rafiq. It was only when bystanders heard his cries and came to his rescue that the man was saved.
As of the lion, whether Raza had a permit to keep it and what happened with the animal after the incident is as yet unknown.
