LAHORE: The government of Punjab will not relax its ban on the Hindu spring festival of Basant Panchami and its related kite-flying festival this year, according to official spokesperson Malik Mohammed Ahmad Khan.
“There is a complete ban on ‘Basant’ and Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has categorically stated that any violation will not be tolerated. If it is flouted in any part of the province, the police in that area would be taken to task,” Khan told Arab News.
Basant is celebrated in many parts of the country. Punjab, in particular, both in Pakistan and India, has a long tradition of marking the commencement of spring in a festive manner. Colorful homemade kites are raised high in the sky, and streets and rooftops are covered with the bright colors of kite flyers dressed in traditional attire.
The Pakistani government’s website describes Basant as “not only a kite flying event, but a cultural festival of traditional food, dresses, dances and music.”
However, due to several fatalities linked to the use of chemical-coated metal twine on the kites, the Supreme Court of Pakistan banned the activity in 2004.
That ban has been lifted twice in the years since. However, there were further deaths and a complete ban has been imposed across the province since 2007.
There have been several protests demanding permission to celebrate Basant in 2018, but authorities show no sign of offering any concessions.
Khawaja Nadeem Waien, president of the Kite Flying Association of Pakistan, told Arab News: “It is a cultural event that has observed for centuries in India and Pakistan. It is a festival to welcome spring. Kite flying is our culture and the government must allow us to observe this event.”
The festival was traditionally a useful source of income for Lahore.
People traveled from other cities or even from abroad to attend. The city’s hotels, guest houses and private lodges were packed with visitors. Some five-star hotels would arrange their own events on their rooftops, with live music and lavish dinners.
Now, residents say the ban has left a large chunk of the community unemployed.
“Several shops have shut down; kite-makers and string-makers went out of work due to the ban on kite flying,” Ali Mohammed, a veteran of the kite business, told Arab News. “Almost 25,000 people related to this business are suffering from the ban.”
“The government must lift the ban and allow us to earn bread and butter for our families,” he said.
Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, said: “The government can allow Basant if the (Kite Flying) Association takes responsibility for the precious lives of the masses. If a life is lost because of the chemical-coated string, the association’s office bearers would be booked under the law.”
Shehbaz Sharif recently backed up Malik Khan’s claim that district police would take the blame for any violations of the band when he tweeted: “Complete BAN on Basant. No one can be allowed to play with the lives of ppl.. concerned DPO will b responsible for any violation of ban.”
Punjab government says no to Basant Festival
Punjab government says no to Basant Festival
Pakistan condemns Netanyahu’s ‘hexagon of alliances’ plan, says alert to growing India-Israel defense ties
- Israel’s Netanyahu last week proposed an alliance of countries in and around Middle East against its adversaries
- Pakistan maintains “robust military preparedness” to deter any potential aggression, says foreign office spokesperson
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement about forming a “hexagon of alliances” within or around the Middle East, saying Islamabad was alert to growing defense ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu on Sunday outlined plans to form a new regional bloc, describing it as a “hexagon of alliances” that he said could include Israel, India, Greece and Cyprus, along with other unnamed Arab, African and Asian states. He said the grouping would collectively stand against what he described as “radical” adversaries.
His comments came days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day trip to bolster ties. The two are expected to discuss cooperation in science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, technology, defense and security during the trip.
The statement drew a sharp response from Pakistan’s Senate, which unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday rejecting Netanyahu’s remarks.
“I would also like to draw your attention to the recent resolution adopted by the Senate of Pakistan that strongly condemned such remarks and attempts to undermine Muslim unity,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters during a weekly press briefing.
“We continue to condemn these provocative steps and statements by the leadership of the occupying power that threaten regional peace and stability,” he added.
Netanyahu had also said Israel’s goal was to create an axis of nations that see eye to eye against what he described as the “radical Shia” and “radical Sunni” axis of nations.
Andrabi said attempts to divide the Muslim world along sectarian lines were a “nefarious design” on Netanyahu’s part.
India is Israel’s largest arms buyer and second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China. In response to a question on India’s growing defense ties with Israel, Andrabi said Pakistan remained cognizant of the risks posed by such cooperation.
“Yes, we remain seized of the defense ties between Israel and India,” the spokesperson said, noting that certain “systems and platforms” may have been used by India against Pakistan in the past.
“We are alive to the threats they pose to our security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to regional peace and stability.”
Andrabi said Pakistan maintained “robust military preparedness” to deter any potential aggression from hostile forces.
‘UTMOST CAUTION EXERCISED’
Andrabi spoke about Pakistan’s recent strikes against alleged militant camps in Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had conducted them in self-defense and with extreme caution to avoid casualties.
Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan against militant camps and hideouts in three provinces on Saturday night, killing over 100 militants. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating its territorial sovereignty and killing dozens of civilians. Kabul has vowed to retaliate.
Andrabi said the strikes were carried out to ensure protection for the lives of the people of Pakistan and to prevent “imminent terrorist attacks.”
“These actions were directed solely against identified terrorist camps and hideouts, and utmost caution was exercised to prevent harm to civilians,” he said.
He warned Pakistan would take necessary measures under its right to self-defense against “terrorist threats” emanating from Afghan territory.
On the safety of Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan following the strikes, Andrabi said Islamabad had raised the issue with Afghan authorities, adding that Islamabad expected “foolproof security” for Pakistani diplomats and civilians.
