LAHORE:
A lawyer’s unusual plea, filed on Monday, to celebrate the Basant festival on the roof of the Lahore Sessions Court, was formally rejected by the court.
Session Judge Tariq Khurshid Khawaja issued a written order after lawyer Yaseen Butt sought permission to hold the event on the court roof. The court noted that its premises were a very sensitive security area.
The order emphasized that allowing such celebrations inside the court premises could pose serious security risks.
He further highlighted that the roof of the Lahore Session Court was neither designed nor suitable to host such events. Taking into account the safety of judges, court staff, lawyers and the public, the court concluded that permission could not be granted.
The Lahore district administration has approved the celebration of Basant from February 6 to 8 this year, allowing kite flying under a comprehensive set of safety norms. Authorities have divided Lahore into Red, Yellow and Green zones to manage the risks associated with kite flying during the upcoming festival.
Read: Punjab CM warns of strict penalties for illegal kite flying during Basant
Strict procedural rules have been approved before the next festival. Only registered kites and cotton strings will be allowed, while glass-coated, chemical and metallic strings will remain prohibited. Each kite and string ball will be registered with a QR (quick response) code to ensure traceability. Authorities will monitor kite flying 24 hours a day through drones, social media surveillance and dedicated control rooms.
Strict action will be taken against illegal activities on rooftops during Basant such as firing of weapons and drinking. The use of helmets and safety cables would be mandatory for motorcyclists, while entry to Red Zones without antennas would be prohibited.
Motorcycles would only be allowed in red zones if they were equipped with safety bars, and riding without them would attract a fine of Rs 2,000. “One million motorcycles in Lahore will be equipped with crash bars free of charge,” Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said earlier.
The described restrictions on kite flying include:
- Only nine-count “pavilion” cotton threads will be permitted; Spools, nylon threads and metal wire are prohibited.
- Kites and “gudda” of sizes larger than those approved are prohibited.
- Flying kites outside of February 6-8 will carry legal penalties, and parents or guardians will be responsible for illegal kite flying.
