LAHORE, Dec 6: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the Punjab chief secretary on a petition seeking permission for celebrating Basant (kite flying) festival in the province.

Earlier, a written reply was submitted on behalf of local government secretary, stating people’s lives could not be put at risk for the sake of enjoyment of ‘only a handful of people’. The reply stated that loss of many precious lives had forced the provincial government to ban kite flying in 2007.

The reply was submitted in response to a petition filed by an office-bearer of the Kite Flying Association, Muhammad Saleem.

The petitioner said the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on kite flying but it had also defined certain parameters for the purpose.

He said Basant festival could be allowed for 15 days in the light of the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Ordinance 2001.

The petitioner said the government had been acting in violation of the ordinance and imposed a blanket ban on all kinds of kite flying. He prayed to the court to direct the respondents to allow kite flying in the province under the parameters set by SC.

Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh adjourned further hearing for two weeks and sought a reply from chief secretary.