LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Punjab chief secretary and Lahore Lord Mayor to submit their replies on a petition challenging the Punjab government’s decision of lifting a ban on Basant festival.<br /><br />A bench of the high court directed the official respondents to submit their comments on the petition by Jan 15.<br /><br />On Dec 19, the Punjab government announced its decision to lift the ban imposed on celebrating Basant saying the festival — which marks the arrival of Spring season — will be celebrated in the second week of February 2019.<br /><br />The plea was filed by a woman who challenged the section-4 of the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Ordinance 2001, which has four sub-sections titled ‘registration, permission for kite flying and kite flying association.’<br /><br />She said the Supreme Court had already banned kite flying and “it is the violation of a fundamental right to allow kite flying”.<br /><br />The petitioner said it was the responsibility of the state to ensure safety to lives of the citizens.<br /><br />She requested the court to declare Punjab government’s decision allowing kite flying be declared void with immediate effect.<br /><br />Information Minister Fayazul Hassan Chohan had announced lifting the ban on Basant on Dec 18.
