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LAHORE, Jan 05 (APP):The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed police authorities to submit a comprehensive safety plan in connection with the notification allowing kite flying.
Justice Malik Muhammad Awais Khalid passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel, challenging the Kite Flying Ordinance and the Deputy Commissioner’s notification permitting Basant.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique contended that ensuring the protection of citizens’ life and property during kite flying was a fundamental constitutional right. He urged the court to declare both the Kite Flying Ordinance and the notification permitting kite flying null and void. The counsel also presented photographs as part of the petition, including an image allegedly showing a child with a severed throat caused by kite string.
The court sought an explanation from the Additional Secretary Judicial regarding the measures taken to protect the public and questioned how safety would be ensured during kite flying activities. The bench further directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab and the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore to submit reports detailing how safety measures would be regulated.
Assistant Advocate General Anwar Hussain raised a preliminary objection, arguing that the ordinance had since been converted into an act, rendering the petition non-maintainable. However, the court observed that the legal status of the act would be examined at a later stage, noting that the present petition primarily concerned the safety of citizens.
Subsequently, the court directed the additional secretary judicial to obtain a detailed safety plan from the IG Punjab and the CCPO and adjourned the hearing until January 16 for further proceedings.