LHC directs mayor to decide application about Basant

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Lahore mayor to decide within seven days an application of kite flying association seeking permission to celebrate Basant. District Kite Flying Association President Lala Rukh Jamshed filed a writ petition making the chief secretary, deputy commissioner and lord mayor as respondents.

The petitioner through his counsel argued that celebrating Basant was a lawful right of the citizens of Lahore. However, he said, the government put a ban on the kite flying event and was harassing the people related to business of manufacturing kites and sting. He said thousands of people who used to earn from the manufacturing of kites and twine had been forced to live miserable lives due to the ban imposed on kite flying by the provincial government.

The counsel prayed to the court to lift the ban on the kite flying and Basant so that the poor people associated with the kite business could earn money for their families in a respectable manner, and the citizens could celebrate Basant. He said an application had also been submitted with the lord mayor to this effect but no decision had been made so far. Justice Karim disposed of the petition and directed the mayor to decide the application of the kite flying association within seven days after hearing their point of view.