A lion takes a ride in the back of a pickup truck in Pakistan. Screenshot: DawnNews/YouTube

June 15 (UPI) -- Authorities in Pakistan said a man is facing charges after a viral video showed him driving around Karachi with a lion in the bed of his pickup truck.

The video, recorded in the Karimabad area this week, shows the black pickup cruising down a street with the lion casually lounging in the back, unrestrained by anything except a leash held by a man inside the vehicle.


The video was reported to police, who identified the lion's owner as Saqlain Jawaid, a Karachi pet dealer.

Jawaid said he has the proper permits to keep the lion and the incident in the viral video was him driving the big cat to a veterinarian to be seen for an illness.

Investigators said the man was found to have had a permit to operate a small private zoo, but the permit expired in 2016.

Authorities said Jawaid is expected to face charges including negligence and spreading fear and panic.