LAHORE, March 11: Injudicious handling of Basant festival has not only caused embarrassment for the Punjab government but also piled agony on the families, who have to pay huge sums of money to secure the release of their children. Several enthusiasts have been booked for violating ban on kite flying since Thursday night.

A large number of guests who have reached the city from abroad and other cities to celebrate the event are wonderstruck over the government’s ‘sudden decision’ to slap ban on the festivity.

“Yesterday the chief minister was saying that if more kite-flying related deaths occurred, there might be a permanent on it. And today he suddenly comes to know that some people were killed by twine and, therefore, the sport has been banned and there will be no Basant in Lahore,” said Waseem, a chemical engineer, who is here from London to celebrate the festival.

“Who is the chief minister trying to befool? Every body knows that since President Gen Musharraf refused to attend any Basant-related activity in Lahore, the chief minister rushed to score the point and announced the ban.

“The ban was earlier relaxed by the Supreme Court for 15 days and further extended for another five days not on the plea of kite lovers or the association, but on the request of the Punjab government that it needed more time for arrangements.

“Doesn’t it show a complete absence of the government’s own policy over the issue, as it had tried to put up the whole show to please only one person,” said the resented visitor.