LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the Punjab government and other official respondents on a petition challenging the government’s decision to lift the ban on Basant festival in the province.
A single-member bench comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the petition filed by Irfan Wattoo and directed all the respondents to submit their replies by Dec 26.
During the course of proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel, Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, questioned the government decision to lift the ban on Basant, submitting that the restrictions were imposed after the festive activity turned into a fatal sport.
He submitted that it was unconstitutional to allow such an activity that results in the loss of human lives and pleaded with the court to set aside the decision, being illegal, and requested for a stay order in this regard.
The court, however, turned down the plea to grant a stay order against the kite-flying festival until the petition is decided and sought the government’s response by Dec 26.
Earlier this week, the Punjab government had decided to lift the ban on Basant and announced that the festival will be held in February next year.
A citizen had taken the government to the LHC against its decision to lift the ban and pleaded that any festivity at the expense of human lives should not be allowed.
The petition prayed to the court to strike down the government’s decision to hold the festival in the province.
Basant festival was banned across the province after throats of several motorcyclists and others were cut with kite flyers’ sharp glass and chemical-coated strings.
In 2005, the Supreme Court had also banned the festival and dismissed several petitions challenging the ban.
