Sanctity Of Flag: ‘No colours but green and white’

LAHORE: Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan of Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the provincial government to ensure the national flag was not printed in any colours other than the green and white. The judge also ordered the government to form a policy to ensure respect for the flag. He ordered the home secretary to ensure compliance of the order and submit a report in this regard within three months. Talha Bilal, the petitioner, had told the court that preparations for Independence Day were in full swing. He said sanctity of the flag was not being maintained.He said that Pakistan’s flag had a specific form and colour. “There can be no pictures or inscriptions on it,” he said.  “These days, the flag is modified with pictures of various people, sometimes with cartoons,” he said. This was a violation of the law and action should be taken against those violating it, the petitioner said. He requested the court to issue directions to stop the sale of modified flags.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2016.