Animal fighting in Pakistan illustrates a troubling conflict between tradition and ethics, where cultural practices frequently eclipse compassion and animal rights
Prof. Dr. Abdullah Arijo
Animal fighting in Pakistan illustrates a troubling conflict between tradition and ethics, where cultural practices frequently eclipse compassion and animal rights. Despite growing awareness of animal welfare worldwide, cruel sports such as dog fighting, bull contests, and cockfighting remain disturbingly common in Sindh and other regions. These practices, often celebrated as entertainment or symbols of masculinity, expose a deep disconnect between cultural pride and humane responsibility. Criticizing these traditions is not an attack on heritage but a call to align cultural practices with ethical values and religious teachings that emphasize compassion.
Animal Rights and Ethical Foundations
Animal rights are fundamental to any ethical society. They assert that all living beings deserve dignity, care, and freedom from cruelty. Yet in Pakistan, animals are frequently reduced to instruments of entertainment. Dog fights, bull clashes, and cockfights are organized in villages and towns, drawing crowds who cheer as animals suffer. This normalization of cruelty undermines the moral fabric of society, desensitizing communities to violence and eroding empathy. While Pakistan has enacted some animal welfare legislation, societal attitudes remain a formidable barrier to meaningful change.
Read: Animal Rights: Understanding Pakistan’s Laws against Cruelty
Cultural Context
- Tradition of animal fighting: In rural Sindh, dog fights and bull contests are organized during festivals or local gatherings. These events are seen as displays of strength, bravery, and community bonding.
- Cultural justification: Supporters argue that such practices are part of heritage, passed down through generations.
- Religious misinterpretation: Some even attempt to justify animal fighting through distorted religious reasoning, despite Islam’s clear emphasis on compassion toward animals.
This cultural framing reveals how cruelty is often disguised as tradition. Yet traditions are not immutable; they evolve. Practices once considered acceptable, such as slavery or public executions, are now condemned. Animal fighting must follow the same trajectory.
Legal Framework and Its Limitations
Pakistan’s primary legislation on animal welfare, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890, is a colonial-era law that is outdated and poorly enforced. Recent efforts, such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s animal welfare law, have banned animal fights for entertainment and introduced penalties for abuse. However, enforcement remains weak due to corruption, lack of awareness, and societal acceptance of cruelty. Police often turn a blind eye, and organizers exploit loopholes. Without the modernization of laws and strict enforcement, cruelty continues unchecked.
Human Attitudes and Social Criticism
- Normalization of cruelty: Many Pakistanis view animal fighting as harmless fun, ignoring the suffering inflicted on animals.
- Masculinity and prestige: Owning a strong fighting dog or bull is often associated with honor and status, reinforcing toxic notions of masculinity.
- Public apathy: Witnessing cruelty, whether a camel mutilated in Sanghar or dogs injured in Karachi, rarely sparks outrage.
- Urban vs. rural divide: Urban activists and NGOs increasingly criticize these practices, but rural communities often resist change, citing tradition.
This normalization of cruelty reflects a broader societal failure. When violence against animals is tolerated, it fosters indifference toward suffering in general, weakening the moral foundation of communities.
Ethical and Religious Dimensions
Islamic teachings provide a clear moral compass. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized kindness to animals, forbidding cruelty and unnecessary suffering. Animal fighting directly contradicts these teachings. To inflict pain for entertainment is not only unethical but also un-Islamic.
From a global perspective, animal fighting is criminalized and socially condemned in developed countries. Pakistan’s persistence in such practices isolates it from international ethical standards, damaging its reputation and portraying it as resistant to humane progress.
Consequences of Animal Fighting
- Physical suffering: Animals endure severe injuries, infections, and death in fighting pits.
- Psychological trauma: Studies show that animals experience fear and stress, undermining their natural behavior.
- Human desensitization: Exposure to cruelty fosters indifference, making societies less compassionate overall.
- International image: Pakistan’s tolerance of animal fighting damages its reputation, portraying it as backward in terms of humane progress.
The consequences extend beyond animals. A society that tolerates cruelty risks cultivating citizens who are indifferent to suffering, perpetuating cycles of violence.
Pathways to Reform
- Legal modernization
o Update colonial-era laws to reflect modern animal welfare standards.
o Ensure strict penalties for organizers and participants of animal fights.
- Education and awareness
o Introduce animal welfare topics in schools and universities.
o Use media campaigns to highlight cruelty and promote compassion.
- Religious advocacy
o Engage scholars to emphasize Islamic teachings on kindness to animals.
o Counter misinterpretations that justify cruelty.
- Community engagement
o Work with rural communities to replace fighting traditions with humane cultural activities.
o Promote sports and festivals that celebrate strength without cruelty.
- NGO and activist role
o Strengthen grassroots movements advocating for animal rights.
o Collaborate with international organizations for resources and expertise.
These pathways require collective effort. Reform cannot be achieved through legislation alone; it demands a shift in societal attitudes, reinforced by education, religious guidance, and community engagement.
Animal fighting in Pakistan extends beyond mere cultural tradition; it embodies a mentality that prioritizes entertainment over empathy. Critiquing these practices is crucial for fostering a humane society where compassion is esteemed as highly as tradition. Achieving meaningful reform necessitates a combination of legal enforcement, education, religious guidance, and community involvement. Only then can Pakistan progress toward a future where animals are treated with dignity and human attitudes transcend cruelty.
By rejecting animal fighting, Pakistan can honor its cultural heritage while fulfilling its ethical responsibilities, demonstrating that true strength lies not in domination, but in compassion.
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Abdullah Arijo is a professor and curriculum architect at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, specializing in Parasitology, fisheries, aquaculture, zoology, and environmental sciences. He is also a civic advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development.
