Animals scarcely rate public notice.
The World Society for Animal Protection campaigns on behalf of dancing bears in Pakistan, but faxes press releases to Islam-abad media from London. Pakistan enjoys a relatively strong tradition of press freedom, by the standards of underdeveloped nations and the Islamic world. Public life in Pakistan is dominated by Islamic fundamentalists, who tend to ignore teachings of Mohammed which were meant to protect women and animals. Afghanistan, to the north, has for more than 20 years been embroiled in almost perpetual civil war. That makes ideas from India, including about the humane treatment of animals, almost inherently suspect to many Pakistanis.