LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh on Wednesday sought replies from provincial and local governments on a petition challenging ban on kite flying and Basant festival.

Muhammad Ali and others filed the petition and pleaded through a counsel that the provincial government had imposed ban on Basant in 2007 following an increase in deaths due to kite flying.

He said a large number of people affiliated with the making and selling of kites and twine had become jobless but the government ignored this aspect all together while imposing the ban.

The lawyer argued that every citizen had the constitutional right to do lawful business of his choice but this fundamental right had been denied to people associated with kite flying business.

He asked the court to set aside the ban on Basant and order the government to announce a 15-day time of kite flying business as mentioned in law.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2020