LAHORE, Feb 5: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday ordered immediate arrest of those preparing or selling metal wire or tandi (nylon string) and those flying kites with them.

He hinted at withdrawing the permission to sell or fly kites given for a month if the practice of using nylon string or metal wire was not stopped.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting on law and order and arrangements for the forthcoming Basant and Jashan-i-Baharan festivities.

Sources said the government might not extend the permission on selling or flying kites because of the deaths of some people in incidents involving metal wire or sharp string in the past few days.

The city district government might also prescribe size of kites to control the usage of metal wire, nylon string or thick and sharp thread, they said.

They said the chief minister said he would ban kite-flying because recreation did not mean risking lives of people or violating law.

Pervaiz Elahi regretted the recent deaths particularly in Lahore in kite-flying related incidents, directing the authorities concerned not to spare those selling, preparing or using metal wire or nylon string.

The chief minister also directed the authorities to disallow obscenity and 'outlandish activities' like dances during Basant or Jashan-i-Baharan functions.

The meeting was informed that around eight private parties had announced to organize such parties on Basant in different parts of the city.

The chief minister ordered that no-one should be allowed to indulge in objectionable activities.

The meeting was attended among others by Lahore Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool, Home Secretary Ejaz Shah, Lahore DPO Tariq Salim Dogar and other senior officers.