Enthusiasts defy ban, celebrate Basant in Cantonment

RAWALPINDI:

Enthusiasts celebrated Basant in different areas of the Rawalpindi Cantonment despite a ban as police arrested 50 kite-flyers and sellers and recovered thousands of kites and metal string rolls during crackdowns.

A large number of kite-flying enthusiasts showed up in different areas and brazenly defied the ban, challenged the police and resorted to aerial firing.

Despite the Punjab government’s ban on kite-flying and the use of metal strings, kite-fliers publicly challenged the government’s writ by celebrating illegal Basant in the Cantonment areas including in Chuhar Chowk, Naseerabad, Westridge, Misrial, Dhok Chaudrian, Dhok Syedan, Harley Street, Tali Mohri, Lal Kurti, Dhamyal, Mughalabad, Tench Bhata, 22 No Chungi, Telegraph Colony and Peshawar Road.

After Friday prayers, a large number of people gathered on roofs and flew kites hooked to metal strings.

The young men on the roofs also indulged in celebratory firing with heavy weapons.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2023.