Pakistan146;s politics of kite-flying

Successive Basants came by and Lahoris, along with local tourists, enjoyed themselves to the fullest 8212; until, children and bikers began to get killed because of the metal wire used by innovators to fly their kites higher to compete with each other.

The Supreme Court then stepped in and imposed a ban on flying kites in October 2005, after a Lahore lawyer filed a constitutional petition in court, submitting that several people, particularly children, had died each year because of the sport. The case was supplemented by the Lahore Electric Supply Corporation, whose lawyer submitted that kite flying had damaged its installations worth Rs 1 billion while 15,566 incidents of power tripping were recorded in a month during the kite-flying season.

Since the Basant debate and ban on kite-flying came against the background of the clergy8217;s ritualistic opposition to the festival led to confusion. The clergy had several problems with Basant last year: the country had seen a terrible quake in October 2005, so it was bad form to celebrate a festival in early 2006; the West had just insulted Muslims with 8216;blasphemous8217; cartoons and Pakistan needed to focus on opposing that rather than celebrating anything. Thrown in with this was the old mantra about Basant being a Hindu festival.

But none of this would have washed if the SC had not weighed in on the side of a ban. Indeed, by the end of 2006, the Punjab government had started informal efforts to save Basant and create an environment in which business could be generated through this festival. This year, on January 20, 2007, the Punjab government promulgated an ordinance amending the Punjab Prohibition of Dangerous Kite Flying Activities Ordinance, 2001. The ordinance provides the legal framework for 15 days of kite-flying, evidently to allow the festival to go ahead.

Under the amended law, 8220;whose premises or roof is being used, must seek prior approval from the Union Council nazim and intimate to the police Station House Officer8221;. The violators can be imprisoned for six months and fined up to Rs 100,000. Also, district governments would form kite-flying associations, and the people involved in kite making and selling would register themselves with the relevant district government. Under the new law, those found violating the string-specifications or using metallic wire, nylon cord, thread coated with glass splinters and manufacturing injurious material to be used for kite flying, are liable to arrest.

The SC, in the latest development, has refused to give cover to the government8217;s legislation. 8220;The SC granted a 15-day relaxation for kite-flying in Punjab last year and several deaths were reported8230; Who will give assurance for a safe Basant this year?8221; asked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while conducting suo motu proceedings in the kite-flying case against the Punjab government. The SC says it is now the duty of the provincial government to ensure law and order and that the courts will not become a party in this case; they want to avoid criticism when people die.

Punjab government officials are now meeting regularly to set the pace for the implementation of the newly promulgated ordinance and ensure a safe Basant this year. An awareness campaign has been launched.

Traders want to open businesses before Basant and progress in the registration of kite manufacturers and associated traders is also being reviewed. The majority of people support the government8217;s efforts for Basant, which has now become an international event that attracts investment and creates employment. There is an understanding now that unless all stakeholders 8212; the government, traders, and kite-fliers 8212; assume collective responsibility, it will be very hard to implement the rules.

And no one wants to be deprived of celebrating a festival that has even caught the attention of the world.

The writer is assistant news editor, 8216;The Friday Times8217;, Lahore.