Basant celebrations to go ahead despite ban
Kite Association has announced to celebrate Basant on Friday and Basant Night in Rawalpindi city today (Thursday), defying the district government's orders of a complete ban on kite flying and selling.
Following the ban on kite flying and the sale and purchase of kites and string, the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) and City Police Officer (CPO) have already issued orders for the arrest of anyone involved in kite flying or kite selling on both days. Instructions have also been given to all police stations and the Special Branch to ensure the arrest of kite sellers and flyers.
In addition, the district administration has issued instructions for motorcyclists to take safety precautions against metal string by covering their motorcycle handles.
The Kite Association has declared that they will hold Basant Night and the festival at any cost, despite the ban. If it rains on Friday, Basant will be postponed for a week and celebrated on February 28.
Despite the police crackdown and raids, a large number of kites and string rolls have been delivered to Rawalpindi. Orders for kites are being placed on social media using coded terms for delivery to homes. Kites are referred to as "pet animals," and strings are given the code name for "animal feed".
The SHOs of various police stations have been issuing announcements via loudspeakers in mosques and neighbourhoods, attempting to stop kite flying. Interestingly, in the residential colony of Jhanda Chichi, where police officials' children are involved, preparations for Basant are in full swing.
The police have taken strict measures for Basant, with motorcycle squads patrolling the streets and areas. Large ladders have been provided to officers to climb over houses and arrest kite flyers from the back of homes.
Chaudhry Iqbal, the vice chairman of the Kite Association, has called upon the government to shut down factories producing glass-coated metal string, as this would eliminate the danger associated with kite flying.
He urged that a complete ban on the production of metal thread should be enforced and permission to fly kites on open grounds. "If the government takes such measures, the Kite Association will cooperate fully."
Iqbal laments that on the one hand, the government collects heavy taxes from the manufacturers of "metal" string and other kite-flying materials but imposes restrictions on the kite flyers on the other hand.
He questions whether the government should only be concerned with kite flying when murder-related crimes have not yet been eradicated in the country.
Iqbal has urged the administration to focus on eliminating chemical-coated string production rather than punishing kite flyers. "In the celebration of Basant Night, kites will be flown today (Thursday), from sunset until midnight, while Basant will officially begin tomorrow (Friday), after Friday prayers and continue until sunset," he made it clear.
On the other hand, DC Hassan Waqar Cheema has made it clear that any kite flyer or seller will be arrested and charged with sentences ranging from three to seven years in prison, with fines ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs5 million.
No permission will be granted for Basant Night tonight or for kite flying on Friday, and individuals involved in kite flying will be apprehended from rooftops, he warned.
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