DC Cheema warns of prosecution of violators of up to six months imprisonment and fine of Rs0.5 million
RAWALPINDI:
Despite strict restrictions imposed by the district administration, the Kite Association announced that Basant would be celebrated in Rawalpindi on February 12 and 13.
Representatives of the association said that while Basant can be celebrated conditionally in Lahore, it can also be held in Rawalpindi, adding that the city is not a no-go zone for Basant lovers.
Kite association president Haji Iqbal and secretary Muhammad Tayyab declared that February 12 would be the night of Basant, starting after Maghrib prayers and continuing until midnight.
During this time, only white kites would be flown, slogans of “Bo Kata” would be raised, rooftop barbecues would take place, and firecrackers and aerial firing would also take place. They claimed that chemical and metal ropes would be banned.
They further declared that February 13 would be marked as a complete ‘Basant Day’, starting after Friday prayers and continuing till sunset. Kite flying would take place from the roofs of houses, shops, squares and in open fields. Kite makers have already started placing orders for kites and strings in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while production has resumed at warehouses in the city center. Merchants have also started taking reservations through social media and offering home delivery.
Supplies of kites from neighboring regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Haripur, Abbottabad and Khanpur, have increased in Rawalpindi. There were reports that several police officers were involved in supplying kites and strings.
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Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema said that Basant, sale of kites and flying of kites are strictly prohibited and no one will be allowed to celebrate Basant.
He warned that cases would be registered against violators, with penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 0.5 million. Action will also be taken against the parents. Orders were issued to stop Basant celebrations.
The city police officer said SHOs of all 34 police stations in the district have been given strict instructions to carry out daily crackdowns against the sale of kites and strings. Anti-kite flying teams were formed in each police station and strict checks were imposed at entry points from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Confiscated kites will be immediately destroyed.
On Basant days, special teams will be deployed to stop kites by accessing rooftops using external ladders.
Following Basant’s announcement, the prices of kites and strings increased sharply. A small single kite is sold for Rs150, a medium one for Rs300 and a large high-quality kite for Rs500. The prices of the ropes range from Rs 2,700 to Rs 4,000, while 70 per cent of the ropes available in the open market are said to be metallic and prepared using chemicals.
A police spokesperson said an operation against kite flying was underway across the city. Over the past week, 8,643 kites and 3,985 strings were seized, and 29 suspects were arrested and sent to Adiala Prison.
