The ban on kite-flying, metallic strings and aerial firing is openly being violated in Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas. The residents of the city have expressed concern over kite flying and use of metallic strings, banned by the city administration saying that the violation is a question mark on the performance of the authorities concerned.
Despite a ban on kite flying imposed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and Punjab government, the local police have failed to stop it as several persons injured during last week while flying kites in different localities of the city.
The areas of the city, where kite flying going unchecked, included Peoples Colony, Tench Bhatta, Dhoke Seydan, Kiani Road, Dhoke Chaudharian, Adyala Road, Bakra Mandi, Masrial, Gulshanabad, Kehkashan Colony, Jarahi, Dhama Seydan, Mubarik Lane, Katcheri, Morgah, Jhanda Cheechi, Chakri Road, Girja Road, Chungi Number 22, Dheri Hassanabad, Lalazar, Tusla, Lalkurti, Raja Bazaar, Dingi Khoe, Liaquat Road, Bhabra Bazaar, Peshawar Road, Committee Chowk, Pirwadhai, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Shamasabad, Faizabad, Rehmanabad, 6th Road, Commercial Market, Sadiqabad, Kuri Road, Dhoke Lalyal and many other areas.
The administration has failed to implement the ban, a citizen said adding several areas of the city were noticed where the activity was openly done especially on Thursday night and Friday to celebrate Basant. The citizens have demanded strict compliance of the kite flying ban to prevent road accidents and loss of precious human lives.
The Punjab government has banned kite flying following the directives of the Supreme Court. People have demanded the police to ensure a complete ban on sale of kite along with the sale of fireworks. Locals said that the metallic strings used for flying kites injured several persons during last week, adding that it could have taken their lives. They demanded of the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and the district government to strictly implement the ban of kite flying.
Though, earlier the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had said that administration and police concerned will be held accountable for the violation of the ban on kite flying in any district of the province but there are no appropriate measures to curb the activity. The violation of kite-flying ban has become a routine in the city and the malpractice has been causing different problems for the people vis-a-vis traffic.
Owing to easy availability, the children are purchasing kites and violating the ban not only on rooftops but even on roads.
IHC CJ constitutes seven benches for next week: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Hameed-ur-Rehman has constituted five single and two division benches to hear a number of cases for next week starting from Monday (March 26).
Five single benches include Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan, Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi, Justice Noor ul Haq N Qureshi, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justice Muhammad Azim Khan Afridi.
The first Division Bench comprises Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan, Justice Muhammad Azim Khan Afridi while the second bench includes Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Sidiqui. All the benches will resume hearing over 275 cases during the next week.
