Lawyer’s request to celebrate Basant on Lahore court rooftop denied

Judge says such celebrations on court premises could pose serious security risks

LAHORE:

A lawyer’s unusual request, made on Monday, to celebrate the Basant festival on the rooftop of the Lahore Sessions Court, was formally rejected by the court.

Session Judge Tariq Khurshid Khawaja issued a written order after lawyer Yaseen Butt sought permission to hold the event on the court’s rooftop. The court noted that its premises were a highly sensitive security zone.

The order emphasised that allowing such celebrations within court premises could pose serious security risks.

It further highlighted that the Lahore Session Court’s roof was not designed or suitable for hosting such events. Considering the safety of judges, court staff, lawyers, and the public, the court concluded that permission could not be granted.

The Lahore district administration approved the celebration of Basant from February 6 to 8 this year, allowing kite flying under an extensive set of safety regulations. Authorities have divided Lahore into Red, Yellow, and Green zones to manage risks associated with kite flying during the upcoming festival.

Read: Punjab CM warns of strict penalties for illegal kite-flying during Basant

Strict standards of procedure have been approved ahead of the upcoming festival. Only registered kites and cotton string will be permitted, while glass-coated, chemical, and metal strings will remain banned. Each kite and string ball will be QR (quick response) code-registered to ensure traceability. Authorities will monitor kite flying round the clock through drones, social media surveillance, and dedicated control rooms.

Strict action will be taken against rooftop illegal activities during Basant, such as firing guns and drinking. Helmet use and safety wires would be mandatory for motorcyclists, while entry into Red Zones without antennas would be prohibited.

Motorbikes would only be allowed in red zones if fitted with safety rods, and riding without a rod would incur a Rs2,000 fine. “One million motorbikes in Lahore will be fitted with safety rods free of cost,” Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz previously said.

Outlined restrictions on kite-flying include:

• Only “pinna” cotton strings of nine threads will be allowed; spools, nylon, and metal wire strings are banned.
• Kites and “gudda” larger than approved sizes are prohibited.
• Kite-flying outside February 6–8 will carry legal penalties, and parents or guardians will be held responsible for illegal kite-flying.