The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday referred a petition seeking permission to celebrate the Basant festival across all cities of Punjab to the provincial Chief Secretary, directing him to review the matter and issue a decision within sixty days.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the LHC further directed the Chief Secretary to examine the issue under Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan and Article 4 of the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly regarding the alleged discriminatory policy of allowing Basant celebrations in Lahore only while denying permission to other districts of the province.
The court instructed the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the final decision to the Deputy Registrar of the High Court and advised that the petitioner must also be heard before any determination is made.
The verdict was announced by Justice Malik Muhammad Awais Khalid while hearing a petition filed by Ms Ashba Kamran, who had approached the court seeking permission to celebrate the traditional Basant festival across Punjab.
In her petition, Ms Kamran had made the provincial government, the Home Secretary and other authorities respondents in the case.
At the time the decision was pronounced, the petitioner Ms Ashba Kamran was present in the courtroom, while Anwar Hussain appeared before the court on behalf of the Punjab government.
It is pertinent to mention that a day earlier the Lahore High Court had reserved its verdict on the petition seeking permission to celebrate the Basant festival across Punjab and had indicated that the decision would be announced on Friday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Justice Malik Awais Khalid heard the petition filed by Ms Ashba Kamran concerning the celebration of Basant in all cities of Punjab.
During the thursday hearing, the Punjab Home Department submitted a report before the court outlining the provincial government’s position and proposed safety arrangements regarding the festival.
According to the report submitted by the Punjab Home Department, deputy commissioners may allow Basant celebrations on specific days after obtaining approval from the government.
The report also stated that the concerned deputy commissioner would be responsible for ensuring public safety before permitting the festival.
It further explained that the deputy commissioner would ensure the implementation of all safety measures outlined in the law and would make sure citizens comply with them.
The report also stated that kite sellers and manufacturers would be required to register themselves with authorities, while the use of metallic or other hazardous strings would remain completely banned.
In addition, authorities would ensure that motorcyclists use safety rods to prevent injuries during the kite-flying festivities, the report said.
The report also mentioned that the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore had allowed Basant celebrations after fulfilling all legal requirements and requested the court to dismiss the petition.
During Thursday’s hearing, the petitioner presented arguments regarding the legal status of her petition and maintained that it was the government’s responsibility to facilitate Basant celebrations across Punjab. She alleged that facts had been concealed in the response submitted by the home secretary.
The petitioner further told the court that initially only the deputy commissioner of Lahore had been instructed to consider Basant celebrations, while deputy commissioners in other districts had not been issued any guidelines regarding the festival.