Latest news with #Manahil
Express Tribune
25-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Deadly strings
Listen to article Despite a province-wide ban on kite flying, Punjab's skies continue to turn into death traps, with the latest victim being a four-year-old girl in Rawalpindi who suffered serious wounds from a stray kite string while riding a motorcycle with her father. Unfortunately, kite flying continues unabated, especially in garrison cities, revealing serious lapses in enforcement and public compliance. The problem is not the absence of laws but the absence of consistent enforcement. The Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Act, 2024, was meant to put an end to this hazard, imposing heavy penalties - up to seven years in prison and multi-million-rupee fines for violators, including manufacturers and suppliers. But the reality on the ground tells a different story. The law is being flouted with impunity, and the authorities' sporadic crackdowns are little more than cosmetic exercises. Kites still dot the skyline, and the sharp strings that have already killed and injured many remain a looming threat over Punjab's streets. Authorities must take a more aggressive stance. Authorities must adopt a zero-tolerance policy and ensure strict enforcement of the ban. Routine inspections in high-risk areas, coupled with continuous crackdowns on illegal kite production and sales, are essential to curbing this menace. Furthermore, imposing severe penalties - including substantial fines and legal consequences for repeat offenders - will serve as a strong deterrent. Strict monitoring should also be implemented at the manufacturing and supply level to cut off the availability of hazardous materials used in kite strings. Additionally, law enforcement agencies should conduct periodic surprise inspections, collaborate with local communities to report violations. Without decisive and sustained action, the cycle of preventable tragedies will continue, putting countless lives at risk. The injury suffered by little Manahil should not be dismissed as an unfortunate accident.
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Kite string injures 4-year-old girl
A four-year-old girl was injured by a kite string while riding a motorcycle with her father in Rawalpindi. Kite flying continues unabated in the garrison city and surrounding areas despite police action. According to a spokesperson for the police, enthusiasts ignored the restrictions and continued kite flying and aerial firing. They said on Saturday and Sunday evening, around 8:30pm, four-year-old Manahil was riding a motorcycle with her father, Muhammad Kashif, on Rawal Road. As they approached Ali Nawaz Chauhan Chowk, the deadly kite string, hanging from power lines, struck her face. The string left the child with injuries to her nose and face, and she was rushed to Benazir Hospital, where she received medical treatment before being discharged. It is worth noting that during the Basant Night, police arrested 135 suspects and seized kites, weapons, and other equipment. Meanwhile, kite flying continued to be rampant in various areas of Rawalpindi city and cantonment on Sunday. Social activist Yasir Farooq Usman, who has been vocal against the practice, expressed concern, stating, "The police show activity for one day and then go silent. However, on Sunday, kite flying was rampant in the cantonment areas."
