LAHORE, Oct 25: A four-member Supreme Court bench, taking up a suo motu notice, on Tuesday imposed a one-month ban on kites — flying, manufacturing, buying and selling.

The court also directed the district nazim and Inspector-General of Punjab Police to ensure implementation of the ban. “And in case of violation, the IGP will be responsible,” the court observed.

It also directed public to send complaints regarding violation of its order to the registrar and “the court will take action.”

Earlier, the Punjab Advocate-General stated before the court that there was a ban on the use of metal and nylon wire for kite flying and the government wanted to control and check its misuse.

He suggested that certain areas should be earmarked for kite flying and basic norms should be observed by the people.

The chief justice observed that the law should be implemented to eliminate loss of precious lives and public property.

The CJ remarked that there should be a ban on metal string and “Manja” and it was the responsibility of the government to check the violation.

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday observed that it was not the duty of the court to inform government regarding violation.

Amicus curie Shahid Hamid submitted that Lesco’s installations worth Rs1 billion were damaged while 15,566 trippings were recorded in a month.

The CJ observed that it was not a common problem but it was a matter of people’s lives. Justice Ramday said due to kite flying hospitals faced problems and every SHO knew where they were manufactured.

Advocate Afzal Sandhu argued that no incident of death by string was reported so far but the government had closed some factories. On it, the court asked him who would guarantee that the strings would not be supplied to other cities.

The court adjourned further proceedings for next month.

IGP: Meanwhile, Inspector-General Ziaul Hasan, in a prompt action on Tuesday, directed DIG Tariq Salim Dogar to implement the Supreme Court orders in letter and spirit.

He instructed the DIG that the SSP, additional SPs, SDPOs and SHOs be directed to launch a crackdown in their respective areas and arrest anyone found violating the ban.

He warned that the violators would be taken to task within the ambit of law without succumbing to any pressure.—APP