Lahore: Mini-Basant to be celebrated tomorrow

[Naveed Yaseen]

* KFA general secretary says open grounds should be designated for kite flying
* Enthusiast says mini-Basant being organised to finish stock of kites and string left over from Basant

By Adnan Lodhi

LAHORE: Citizens and the Kite Flying Association (KFA) are prepared to celebrate the mini-Basant on Sunday (tomorrow), despite the death of two more people on Thursday, Daily Times has learnt.

It was observed that the city police could not ensure a complete ban on kite flying despite a week having passed since the official celebrations ended. Occasional kites are still visible on the city’s skies. Kite flying continued on Friday in different areas of the city while a large number of people were seen purchasing kites and string at shops to celebrate mini-Basant on Sunday.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, two more deaths occurred due to kites. Mohsin, a 13-year-old-boy, was crushed by a train when he tried to catch a stray kite on a railway track in Garhi Shahu. Similarly in Cantt, Haroon Shahid, a sixth grade student fell off the roof of his house while flying a kite and died at the hospital. Many incidents were reported where people were injured by kite string, especially in Iqbal Town and Sabzazar.

KFA General Secretary Sheikh Saleem said they were prepared for mini-Basant and hoped that the government would issue a notification officially announcing it. Saleem claimed former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had announced in a speech that mini-Basant would be celebrated after the restoration of the judiciary. He said he was hopeful that the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) would consider their demand.

Saleem said injuries due to kite string had increased on wide and open roads, and offered on behalf of the KFA to provide protective wire for motorcycles.

Open grounds: He said the government should announce specific open grounds for mini-Basant where citizens could fly kites. The KFA general secretary said the government was not responsible for the injuries and deaths, as it had announced precautionary measures to be observed during Basant celebrations. Saleem added that the people who were getting injured and dying were the ones who did not observe the precautionary measures.

Citizens: Customers at kite shops across the city said it was their right as citizens that they be allowed to fly kites, adding that it was the government’s responsibility to provide entertainment for the citizens. Amjad Khan, a kite maker said it was a tradition that after Basant, citizens celebrated mini-Basant on the following Sunday.

Stock: Wasif Ali, a boy said kite flying would continue throughout this month and questioned what was the use of keeping all the remaining kites and string that the citizens had purchased at inflated prices. Ali said those people who looted kites and string on Basant wanted to celebrate and fly kites on mini-Basant. Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta did not answer his mobile phone when Daily Times tried to contact him.

However, an official from the DCO Office said it was the responsibility of the area nazims and the police to take action against the violators. He said according to his knowledge, the DCO office had not issued any notification regarding mini-Basant.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_1