Shehbaz suspends SHO, DSP

Incidents of kite-flying despite ban were deplorable and ordered strict implementation of ban on kite flying

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday took strict notice of injury to a five-year-old boy due to kite string in Misri Shah area and suspended the police officers concerned.

The chief minister ordered to suspend DSP Misri Shah Zulfiqar Butt and SHO Shad Bagh Ibrar. Shehbaz chief minister said that incidents of kite-flying despite ban were deplorable and ordered that strict implementation of ban on kite flying be ensured. The violators should be prosecuted indiscriminately and the injured child be given best treatment facilities, he further said.

Recently, the Punjab government had strictly banned kite-flying throughout the province after some horrifying incidents occurred in which people not only lost their lives, but were actually decapitated. The police also launched crackdown and were arresting suspects for selling or flying kites, but there was little headway in the incidents which claimed left people injured.



In an incident during January 2017, a minor girl was injured in Harbanspura. The victim, identified as Sana, was riding on a motorbike with her uncle when she suffered a head injury caused by a kite string. An FIR, under section 324 (attempted murder), was registered against unidentified suspects.  When asked about progress in this case after three months, investigation officer Asghar Hussain said police were still searching for suspects and yet to establish any solid leads.

In another incident, a 22-year-old man, identified as Abdul Rauf, was riding a bike near Outfall Road when the string of a kite slit his throat.

The victim was admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital for treatment. A case FIR No. 235/17 under section 324 (attempt to murder) of Pakistan Penal Code was registered against unidentified suspects.  Despite passing two months having passed, there was no progress in the case.

When asked, investigation officer ASI Ghulam Farid said the incident occurred at night and a search was underway for the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2017.