Lahore (Staff Report): The Punjab government's announcement of celebrating Basant festival has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).
According to details, a petition was filed in Lahore High Court on Wednesday against the Punjab government's decision to lift the ban on Basant festival.
The petitioner maintained the stance that the Basant was banned after several incidents of kite flyers' sharp glass and chemical coated strings slitting throats of citizens, including children, therefore, any celebration on the expense of human lives must not be allowed.
He prayed to the court any such event must not be allowed at the expense of human lives.
The petitioner further pleaded to the court to annul the Punjab government’s move to lift the longstanding ban on the Basant festival.
Earlier, PML-N lawmaker Hina Pervaiz Butt submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against the provincial government's decision to lift the ban on Basant festival.
The resolution demanded that the Supreme Court of Pakistan take suo motu notice on the decision of lifting ban on Basant as it violates the apex court's 2005 order.
The resolution demands that the provincial government take back the decision.
On Tuesday, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayaz-ul-Hassan Chohan announced to hold Basant festivities in second week of February.
Talking to the newsmen in Lahore on Tuesday, Chohan said Basant celebrations should remain within the prescribed rules and regulations keeping in view the public safety. “I have sought proposals from stakeholders for a safe Basant festival,” he said.
Basant is an enormous economic activity and a source of promoting tourism, the minister added.
This is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif had imposed ban on Basant in both his tenures as the Punjab chief minister after the sharp string attached to the kites has caused loss of numerous precious lives of onlookers and passersby.
Basant –a kite festival is a seasonal festival of the Punjab region. Kite flying begins early morning and continues till sunset on rooftops and house terraces. Friends, neighbours and relatives start the tug for victory, filling the sky with numerous colours.