Pakistan Supreme Court extends ban on flying, making kites
(AP)
10 December 2005
LAHORE, Pakistan - Pakistan’s Supreme Court has extended a ban on making, selling and flying kites that it imposed two months ago after ruling that the sport has become increasingly deadly, an official said on Saturday.
The court decided on Friday to extend the ban until it meets next on Jan. 26, said Aftab Iqbal, advocate general for eastern Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital.
While the court was hearing the case, police swung batons and lobbed tear gas shells outside the building to disperse about 500 kite-makers and kite-flying enthusiasts who were trying to attend the proceedings.
Iqbal said the government is planning to pass a law for a partial or complete ban on kite flying or restricting kites to fields or open spaces.
“A draft law would be ready for examination by the Supreme Court when it meets next time,” he said.
Violations of the Supreme Court ban can be punished by up to six months in jail.
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A lawyer representing 90 kite manufacturers who oppose the kite flying ban said it will make some 100,000 people jobless and denied the festival was linked to Hinduism.
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“The festivity has nothing to do with religion,” Malik Abdul Qayyum said.
Offcourse arbi newspapers and their unreliable relgious sources!
Btw, it is a dangerous waste of time as it is now in Pakistan
They need to set some rules, disciplines so kites are flown in specific areas like parks etc not everywhere with the intention of not hurting either the person involved or any passerbys!
And if it was because of Islam, then basant should be the first event to be axed as it is clearly is a hindu tradition!
Not only Kite, even Cricket should also be banned. It’s also a dangerous waste of time. Pakistan is a poor country and it needs to improve its productivity and so the sports or entertainment which improves the competitiveness of Pakistanis should only be encouraged. I welcome the Pakistani courts decision of banning such sports which wastes people’s time.
if u limit it to a certain point and place it will still be some enjoyment for ppl and also not dangerous for others........i dont think muslim really celebrate it like hindus does to me its just a festive sport....
