LAHORE, March 7: Announcing a province-wide crackdown on makers, sellers and users of dangerous twine, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Tuesday that kite flying would be banned permanently if more deaths were reported during the next five days.

He was speaking at a news conference where PML-N spokesman Farrukh Shah declared his change of heart and entry into the ruling party.

The chief minister who appointed Mr Shah as his media adviser, said he had ordered a province-wide crackdown against the makers, sellers and users of dangerous twine at a meeting on law and order earlier in the day.

“We will have to say goodbye to kite flying if killings of people by dangerous twine continue. Deaths due to a recreational activity cannot be allowed,” he said.

The chief minister said the ban would be imposed if more deaths were reported during the next four to five days. Asked if the damage already done during the past few days was not enough (for inviting a ban on the sport), he said “let us see the results of the crackdown ordered today.”

He hoped that no more people would be killed as a result of the campaign and said 350 people using, selling or preparing dangerous twine had already been arrested during the past few days.

The chief minister said it was decided in the meeting to constitute teams comprising local police and nazims of union councils for conducting raids. SHOs and SPs would be directly responsible for twine-related deaths in their areas of jurisdiction, he said.

He said after newspaper advertisements, the government had now decided to run a campaign against the dangerous twine on electronic media. Those informing police about the users, sellers or makers of the dangerous twine would be given a reward of Rs 25,000, he said.

A chemical twine making factory, according to him, had been busted in Kasur. “We fully share the grief of the affected families. We are giving pecuniary compensation to them even though no-one can compensate for the loss of a life,” he said.

When his attention was drawn towards a JUP announcement of a strike on Saturday if the kite flying was not banned, he said the government had no objection on closing business by people. But it would not allow intimidation of those not intended to join the shutterdown.

Earlier, the chief minister announced the inclusion of Mr Shah in the PML which he said would become more popular in near future as a result of its victory in the Senate elections.

The flow (of leaders) would now be towards the PML, and more important politicians of other parties would join it. The other day a PPP MPA joined the party, he said.

The chief minister said the PML had become popular because of the government’s reform initiatives in every walk of life like health, education and agriculture. It was focussing on Lahore with regard to the development of its infrastructure and preservation of its culture.

He said the government had taken concrete steps to discourage beggary. A 500-bed rehabilitation hospital for beggars would start functioning by August.

Mr Elahi said Mr shah as media adviser would play an important role in letting the people know about the past three years’ achievements of the government with regard to their welfare.

Mr Shah parried questions about reasons and conditions of his joining the PML and deserting the Sharif family. He said he was joining the ruling party because of the “excellent performance of the government. I have switched sides on my own and there has been no pressure on me.”