SC bans kite making, kite flying and sale of kites for one month

LAHORE: Supreme Court has imposed complete ban on kite making, kite flying and sale of kites throughout the country and ordered that violation of these orders will be treated as contempt of court.

A four members full bench of the Supreme court comprising chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, justice Tassadaq Hussain Jillani, justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad and justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday delivered the judgement after the suo motto notice taken by the chief justice of Pakistan.

On behalf of federal government, deputy attorney general Danishwar Malik and advocate general Aftab Chaudhry on behalf of Punjab government proposed before the court that kite flying be restricted to some specific areas instead of slapping complete ban on it. In these fixed places, the string brought by the kite flyers for kite flying be checked ahead of their entry into the area.

Several kite flying victims also appeared in the court. Son of a citizen Shahzad Ahmad Sheikh had lost speaking power after the string had injured his throat.

The court on the plaintive cries of Shahzad Ahmad Sheikh ordered that government of Punjab at its own expenses will arrange treatment of his son wherever it is possible in any part of the world.

Counsel for kite flying association while presenting his argument prayed the court that ban should be imposed on use of metallic or chemical string and not on the kite flying.

Counsel for Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) informed the court about the damage running into million of rupees which was caused to Wapda installation due to kite flying besides the efforts made by the Wapda and recommendations presented by it to the government to ban the kit flying.

The court after hearing the arguments of the counsels of all the interested parties rendered judgement that kite making and sale of kites be banned and ordered that violators would be tried under contempt of court plea.

The court has also directed the Nazmeens and police to ensure implementation of these orders forthwith maintaining the police station officer who does not know what is happening in his area has no right to live there.

The court has also asked the people to inform the police about kite making, kite flying and sale of kites related activities under their social obligation.