Overseas Pakistani Friends

* Organiser says it was a tough decision, but in wider interest of people
* People say it is an attempt to deprive them of their right to celebrate

By Rana Kashif
LAHORE: Lahore Basant Festival and District Kite Flying Association officials have said that the city will not witness the centuries old festival of Basant this year owing to the city government’s policies on kite flying.
The organisers said that the event had been cancelled because the authorities concerned were not co-operating with them, and they (the organisers) would not let people be charged with “fake” cases. The authorities had already banned kite flying and warned that violators would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Tough decision: One of the Lahore Basant Festival organisers, District Kite Flying Association member Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, said on Saturday that it was really heartbreaking for the organisers to call off the event. “We are not willing to cancel it, but unfortunately we have no other option,” he said. “We do not want to see people behind bars or facing problems for flying kites.”

He said that they (the organisers) had suggested that the government erects wires on all 30 roads in the city to avoid any mishap caused by the twine of stray kites.

“We proposed the government asks motorcyclists to use safety collars and wires on motorbikes. We also asked the authorities to register cases against those involved in aerial firing and using prohibited cords, but to let the festival take place,” he said. “Despite all our hues and cries, we were not heard.”

He said that Lahore was internationally known as the city of the kite festival. “The event helps generate a revenue of around Rs 5 billion from various sectors like tourism and transport. It also helps promote the soft image of Pakistan before the world,” he said.

Govt’s word: District nazim’s spokesman Abdual Qadoos, in an earlier statement, had said that the city government would not let anybody celebrate Basant. He said that so many tragedies had happened in the country that celebrating the event was an absurd activity. “Anyone violating the restriction will have to face consequences,” he added.

People denounce decision: People across the city have denounced the cancellation of the event, saying that it is an attempt to deprive them of their right to celebrate.

Iftikhar Alam, a resident of Gulberg, said, “It is shocking to know that such a beautiful festival is not being celebrated this year. Basant celebrations are essential to bring Lahoris out of the traumatic situation which has been caused by terrorists in recent months.” Riaz Ahmed of the Defence Housing Authority said, “The focus should be kept on the things that needed to be restricted rather than cancelling or banning a centuries old sports festival.” He said that Basant should be celebrated, as it had never been an illegal activity in the city or country.

Road to cancellation: The Lahore Basant Festival and District Kite Flying Association organisers had earlier fixed February 21-22, 2008, as the date for Basant.

Later on, the date was changed to March 15-16, and then delayed for another week.

The organisers then fixed April 12-13, 2008, as the date for holding the festival, which has now been cancelled.

Source: Daily Times, 6/4/2008

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