Police arrest 1000 in Pakistan for flying kites

[Adwitiya]

LAHORE: Police in Pakistan's Punjab province have launched a massive crackdown on people selling and flying kites and made over 1,000 arrests after a local group announced it would observe the Basant festival in the traditional manner by flying kites.

The traditional practice of flying kites during Basant was banned three years ago after several people were killed or injured by glass and metal-coated kite twine.

The arrests were made in the provincial capital of Lahore and other parts of Punjab. Police seized over 40,000 kites and 10,000 twine spools over the last couple of days.

Among those arrested was Lahore Kite Flying Association president Sheikh Saleem, who had allegedly announced that Basant would be celebrated on March 6 and 7 in defiance of the ban.

Punjab police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar has said the crackdown will continue till March 7.

Dogar said pickets manned by special magistrates had been set at entry points of Lahore to check the transportation of kites and twines from or to the city.

"Special committees have been established at the union council level to ensure that the ban on kite flying is not violated," he said.

The Lahore High Court recently dismissed a petition challenging the Punjab Prohibition of Kite-Flying Ordinance and seeking permission to celebrate Basant. The ordinance was promulgated in 2007 after several people were killed or injured by the sharp twine.

 

[Adwitiya]

are bhai change the wires and thread whats big deal why to ban kites altogether.... that has been part of traditional culture in India and pakistan both

 

[Evil Flare]

Problem is that " DOR "

so Many innocent Died ...


I appreciate Complete BAN on Basant .

 

[Spring Onion]

According to my information only 158 people have been arrested.

Not a big deal.

The Ban is justified

 

[mjnaushad]

2 days ago a little kid died. I vote for Complete ban.

 

[Spring Onion]

The ‘basant’ was officially banned in 2005 when numbers of people in various cities including Rawalpindi lost their lives due to metallic or chemical-coated string (killer string) that can even cut instantly through the flesh like a sharp-edged weapon.

The massive kite flying festival is often responsible for a host of other problems such as the breakdown in power supply and loss of life due to use of extremely dangerous twine. Aerial firing and use of firecrackers is another factor of disturbance for the society in general.

 

[Introvert]

I agree with the ban also

 

[SMC]

These strings have decapitated people..

I hope that shows the seriousness of the situation.

 

[Spring Onion]

These strings have decapitated people..

I hope that shows the seriousness of the situation.

Yes.

But unfortuantly the Mr Salman taseer does not let go any chance to bash Punjab Government.

 

[Veer]

Problem is that " DOR "

so Many innocent Died ...


I appreciate Complete BAN on Basant .

In India ten times the people of Pakistan fly the Kites.

Ban is pathetic and have to do with radical who thinks it as symbol of the Hindu influence.

Asim says even in Dubai people are allowed to fly kites.

 

[mjnaushad]

In India ten times the people of Pakistan fly the Kites.

Ban is pathetic and have to do with radical who thinks it as symbol of the Hindu influence.

Asim says even in Dubai people are allowed to fly kites.

Where did he said its a symbol of hindu influence......
YOU ARE DERAILING THE TOPIC.....

 

[Veer]

According to my information only 158 people have been arrested.

Not a big deal.

The Ban is justified

So, u even don't know about what happening in Pakistan or purposely being ignorant.




Kite flyers arrested in Pakistan


Despite the ban the skies above Lahore were filled with kites

More than 500 people are reported to have been arrested in the Pakistani city of Lahore for flying kites.

Kite flying is a traditional part of a festival marking the advent of spring in Punjab, but on Thursday the Pakistani authorities introduced a ban.

The prohibition came in after a number of deaths, mostly in Lahore, caused by glass-coated or metal kite-strings.

Families of the seven victims protested last week, demanding that a Supreme Court uphold a ban on the sport.

Similar bans have been imposed in previous years.

Threat to bikers

The spring festival known as Basant is hugely popular across Punjab, with even President Pervez Musharraf often flying down to Lahore to participate.


Many of the hundreds detained were young boys


Kite flyers compete to keep their kites in the air, whilst downing those of others.

But they often resort to using wire or glass-coated strings to cut the strings of rival kites.

When the strings fall across roads, however, they pose a danger to people passing on motor-bikes.

Metal kites can also cause short-circuits in overhead power cables, leading to heavy losses for electricity utilities.

The court had relaxed its kite ban in February this year, but on the condition that it would automatically be reinforced in the event of any more deaths.

Over the years, the Basant festival has drawn thousands of revellers to Lahore from all over the world.

Even Indian movie stars had started participating in the festival which peaks with an all-night flood-lit kite flying marathon on the eve of the festival.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Kite flyers arrested in Pakistan


Thousands Arrested For Flying Kites

6:41pm UK, Sunday March 12, 2006
More than 1,400 people have been arrested in Pakistan for violent kite-flying.The arrests happened in a three-day crackdown at an annual festival held across the east of the country.

180 Kite burning in Pakistan

The offending kites are burnt

A kite-flying ban was imposed in the Punjab province on Thursday after seven people died in the lead up to the Basant festival.

The victims were slashed by kite strings that had been reinforced with wire or glass fibre.

Police spokesman Malik Munir Ahmed said at least 1,430 people have been detained since Friday.

The arrests were mostly for flying kites but also for firing celebratory gunshots into the air and playing loud music.

About 800 were arrested in the provincial capital Lahore, and the rest in other parts of Punjab. They face fines or jail terms of up to six months.

The mayor of Lahore defended the ban, saying it helped prevent deaths.

Mian Amir Mahmood said: "Last year 19 people died on Basant day. No one has died this year". Basant day was the final day of the weekend festival.

Police raided homes where kites were seen flying from backyards.

Some kite fliers cut their strings as police approached and denied they had defied the ban, witnesses said.


Thousands Arrested For Flying Kites | Home | Sky News

DAWN.COM | National | ?Kite-flying ban applies to governor as well?

Police arrests 1000 in Pakistan for flying kites | Siasat

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Veer]

Where did he said its a symbol of hindu influence......
YOU ARE DERAILING THE TOPIC.....

I'm not blaming "Aamir Zia" but it is the thinking of radicals.

Moreover, i don't think "Aamir Zia" is a radical.

 

[mjnaushad]

So, u even don't know about what happening in Pakistan or purposely being ignorant.




Kite flyers arrested in Pakistan


Despite the ban the skies above Lahore were filled with kites

More than 500 people are reported to have been arrested in the Pakistani city of Lahore for flying kites.

Kite flying is a traditional part of a festival marking the advent of spring in Punjab, but on Thursday the Pakistani authorities introduced a ban.

The prohibition came in after a number of deaths, mostly in Lahore, caused by glass-coated or metal kite-strings.

Families of the seven victims protested last week, demanding that a Supreme Court uphold a ban on the sport.

Similar bans have been imposed in previous years.

Threat to bikers

The spring festival known as Basant is hugely popular across Punjab, with even President Pervez Musharraf often flying down to Lahore to participate.


Many of the hundreds detained were young boys


Kite flyers compete to keep their kites in the air, whilst downing those of others.

But they often resort to using wire or glass-coated strings to cut the strings of rival kites.

When the strings fall across roads, however, they pose a danger to people passing on motor-bikes.

Metal kites can also cause short-circuits in overhead power cables, leading to heavy losses for electricity utilities.

The court had relaxed its kite ban in February this year, but on the condition that it would automatically be reinforced in the event of any more deaths.

Over the years, the Basant festival has drawn thousands of revellers to Lahore from all over the world.

Even Indian movie stars had started participating in the festival which peaks with an all-night flood-lit kite flying marathon on the eve of the festival.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Kite flyers arrested in Pakistan


Thousands Arrested For Flying Kites

6:41pm UK, Sunday March 12, 2006
More than 1,400 people have been arrested in Pakistan for violent kite-flying.The arrests happened in a three-day crackdown at an annual festival held across the east of the country.

180 Kite burning in Pakistan

The offending kites are burnt

A kite-flying ban was imposed in the Punjab province on Thursday after seven people died in the lead up to the Basant festival.

The victims were slashed by kite strings that had been reinforced with wire or glass fibre.

Police spokesman Malik Munir Ahmed said at least 1,430 people have been detained since Friday.

The arrests were mostly for flying kites but also for firing celebratory gunshots into the air and playing loud music.

About 800 were arrested in the provincial capital Lahore, and the rest in other parts of Punjab. They face fines or jail terms of up to six months.

The mayor of Lahore defended the ban, saying it helped prevent deaths.

Mian Amir Mahmood said: "Last year 19 people died on Basant day. No one has died this year". Basant day was the final day of the weekend festival.

Police raided homes where kites were seen flying from backyards.

Some kite fliers cut their strings as police approached and denied they had defied the ban, witnesses said.


Thousands Arrested For Flying Kites | Home | Sky News

DAWN.COM | National | ?Kite-flying ban applies to governor as well?

Police arrests 1000 in Pakistan for flying kites | Siasat

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

I WISH THEY ARREST 10000........WHY YOU ALWAYS TROLL

 

[Spring Onion]

In India ten times the people of Pakistan fly the Kites.

Ban is pathetic and have to do with radical who thinks it as symbol of the Hindu influence.

Asim says even in Dubai people are allowed to fly kites.

The saftey measures adopted in Dubai are no match to pathetic attitude of kite flyers in Pakistan.

Dont try to find solace for your Indian thinking by making it a racial issue.

This festival in Punjab is celeberated like anything no where in the world you can see Basant like that. The most dangerouse issue is the killings of inncoent people due to few morons.

Besides tripping of power creating more problems for us.

If you think its your tradition then try to arrange Basant in your country.