LAHORE, Feb 18: The Lahore High Court has referred the question of repugnance or otherwise of ‘Basant’ celebrations to the injunctions of Islam to the Council of Islamic Ideology.

The council will report its findings to the authorities concerned after examining the matter, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad observed in his order on a writ petition filed by Advocate MD Tahir, details of which were available on Monday. The petition was disposed of by a short verbal order on Feb 15.

The lawyer had submitted in his petition that the celebration of Basant by any name, particularly in view of the border situation and the state of economy, is unjustified, unreasonable, un-Islamic and unconstitutional.

The monetary and other resources being expended on the celebrations would be better spent on poverty alleviation and defence. Besides, adequate resources should be allocated to efforts for release of Pakistani citizens detained in Afghanistan, Cuba and India.

The judge directed that copies of the petition be sent to the respondent federal and provincial governments for their consideration.