LAHORE:
After decades of persistent efforts to combat kite flying, aerial firing and one-wheelers, the Lahore police turned to religious scholars for support and obtained a decree from the Jamia Naemia declaring these dangerous activities as un-Islamic.
The fatwa was shared with the public on Wednesday through an official document issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Faisal Kamran. Speaking to the media, Kamran, DIG operations in Lahore, said Islam unequivocally forbids any act that endangers life.
The fatwa, written by Mufti Imran Hanfi and approved by Allama Dr Mufti Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naemi, director of Jamia Naemia, emphasizes the sanctity of human life in Islamic teachings. It categorically states that any act endangering human life is against Islam.
“Any act endangering human life is contrary to Islamic teachings. These activities are equivalent to suicide, which is strictly prohibited in Islam,” said the fatwa, formulated at the request of a citizen, Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi, who was addressed to religious people to seek advice on the matter.
“Police will continue strict measures to curb these deadly activities,” DIG Faisal Kamran said at the press conference. “We also seek cooperation from parents to ensure that their children stay away from such illegal and un-Islamic activities,” he added.
Deadly Mode
All three activities have repeatedly proven deadly: the use of sharp kite strings has resulted in several deaths, aerial gunfire has caused countless deaths and injuries, while flying a single wheel continues to be one of the main causes of road accidents.
In January alone, police arrested 151 people for one-wheeling and registered 150 cases related to kite flying. In addition, 118 people were arrested for aerial shooting. DIG Kamran stressed that authorities would maintain their crackdown to deter such violations.
The issuance of the fatwa is part of the latest strategy by the Lahore Police to tackle a problem that has persisted for over two decades despite a zero-tolerance policy. Police have recorded thousands of cases and carried out numerous crackdowns during this period, but violations remain commonplace.
In 2024, on average, the Lahore Police registered eight daily cases against kite flying, arresting a similar number of people. Between January and November 30, 2024, a total of 2,767 cases were recorded, with an equal number of arrests in Lahore alone.
Other areas of Punjab have also reported significant violations. In Sheikhupura, 1,171 cases were recorded, 2,027 cases in Gujranwala, 388 in Gujrat, 1,011 in Rawalpindi, 2,866 in Faisalabad, 632 in Multan and 541 in Sahiwal.
Persistent problem
Provincial data from 2024 revealed the severity of the problem across Punjab. A total of 3,595 cases of aerial firing were recorded, leading to the arrest of 5,412 people. Among them, 3,865 offenders were convicted and 2,816 complaints were submitted. In Lahore, 523 cases were reported, with 572 arrests.
For single-seaters, 3,170 cases were recorded across the province, leading to 3,365 arrests. Lahore accounted for a significant portion, with 1,641 cases and 1,569 arrests. Statistics show that the problem has not abated despite considerable efforts.
Police have tried several strategies – from community awareness campaigns to increased patrols – but with limited success. The recent use of religious teachings appears to be an attempt to reinforce police repression with moral and spiritual guidance.
By involving religious scholars, authorities hope to create a powerful deterrent against these potentially deadly activities. The fatwa aligns with Islamic principles and leverages the respect and influence of clerics in society to deter individuals from engaging in these dangerous activities.
DIG Faisal Kamran reiterated the importance of collective efforts to eliminate these practices. “Parents must play their role in monitoring their children and discouraging illegal activities. Community cooperation is vital to ensuring public safety,” he said.
