Watch: Pakistani man arrested for flaunting lion in busy market

How would you react if you saw a car that passes you by has a lion sitting at the backseat?

People in a local market in Karachi underwent that surreal experience after a local businessman paraded the big cat in a city bustling with around 20 million people.

The police arrested the man named Saqlain Javed on Wednesday (May 14) after a video showing a lion loungingat the back of the car went viral on social media.

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The businessman was later released on bail.

"The man was driving around with his lion near a local market and it was a matter of endangering public life and property," senior police superintendent Muqadas Haider told Reuters.

Javed's reason for taking the big cat out for a spin was that his pet was unwell and therefore being taken to a vet.

Javed has a license to run a personal zoo and raise lion cubs, Haider added, but is not allowed to transport the animal on city streets.

The lion has been returned to its home as police consult the wildlife department on further action.

Pakistani newspaper Dawn has however reported that the licence of ownership had elapsed.