LHC seeks reply from Punjab govt on decision to celebrate Basant

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a clause-wise reply from the Punjab government on its announcement to lift a longstanding ban on Basant celebrations.

LHC’s Justice Aminuddin Khan heard a petition filed by a citizen against the Punjab government’s announcement to celebrate the annual kite-flying festival.

The petition argues that the Basant celebrations were banned after several incidents of kite flyers' sharp glass and chemical coated strings slitting throats of citizens, including children, hence any celebration on the expense of human lives must not be allowed.

The petition also pleaded that a stay-order be issued on the government's decision, however, the court rejected the request and issued a notice to the Punjab government to submit a clause-wise reply.

The Punjab government on Tuesday decided to lift a longstanding ban on Basant celebrations, announcing that the annual kite-flying festival would be held in the province in February next year.

Basant, a kite-flying seasonal festival of the Punjab region that has been celebrated for generations, is held in late January or early February and marks the start of the spring season.

The festival was banned by the Supreme Court in 2005 after several incidents of death from slitting of unsuspecting individuals' throats. Negligence of safety rules and regulations also led to several deaths as a result of celebratory aerial gunfire and fatal falls from rooftops during the festival.