LAHORE, March 7: The Punjab JUP on Tuesday demanded a ban on Basant, otherwise, it said, the party would organise a strike in Lahore against the festival on Saturday.

Punjab JUP Secretary-General Qari Zawar Bahadur said at a press conference the party activists would forcibly stop people from observing Basant if it was not banned.

He alleged the government was turning a blind eye to the deaths of innocent people, including children, caused by the dangerous twine. “We demand an immediate ban on this dangerous sport,” he said.

He claimed that several ulema and party workers were behind the bars for ‘protesting against the caricatures’, alleging more were being sought after by police. He demanded release of the arrested religious leaders and activists and withdrawal of detention orders of Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

He announced that the JUP would hold a conference at Minar-i-Pakistan on March 20.