Kite victim’s father serves legal notice on governor

Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Sajid Bashir

LAHORE: 

The Father of a girl, who was killed by kite twine on Basant last, has served a legal notice to Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, asking him to justify his act of lifting ban on the kite flying which caused loss of life and limb to hundreds of innocent citizens. 

The governor would have to face legal proceedings if he failed to explain the reasons of allowing Basant within the period of 60 days, said the notice sent by Muhammad Saeed Ahmad Khokhar in capacity of Pro Bono Publico on behalf of Mohammad Safdar, the father of victim Maria (6). Raja Jahanzeb Akhtar advocate, the counsel for Mr. Khokhar, confirmed that the notice had been received by the staff of Governorís House. 

On March 15, 2009 (Sunday) Safdar along with his wife and two daughters Maria and Maheen was going to his relatives in Sheikhupura. 

He said Maria was sitting on bike’s petrol tank while his wife and four year-old Maheen were sitting on rear side of bike. “When I came on The Mall, the cops diverted traffic to Jail Road and from there police officials directed the commuters to go to Ferozpur Road,” meanwhile when he reached near Rehmanpura, a kite string struck the bike and they fell on the road. 

He saw a pool of blood around Maria and she was screaming in pain. She was rushed to the Services hospital where she passed away just after the ten minutes.

The notice highlighted that the Punjab Governor under his supervision had allowed kite flying in Lahore for two days on March 14 and March 15, 2009. As a result of the permission for kite flying, around three persons including a seven-year-old girl Maria were killed and 400 others sustained serious injuries. 

It stated that the Lahore Police also badly failed to implement the ban on aerial firing, motorcycle riding and the use of chemical strings as thousands of rounds were fired in the air and a six-year-old boy Zain-ul-Abideen lost his life due to a stray bullet that he received in his head. Instead of implementing ban on aerial firing and other offenses, the police minted money by arresting innocent people and releasing them after taking bribe. 

It further stated that as per section 154 Cr.P.C if any untoward incident takes place as above with the jurisdiction of particular, the SHO concerned shall be bound to register a case against the persons including the manufacturers and sellers of kites and kite flying strings, and after investigation the cases shall be forwarded not only against them to the court of law but also against such authorities as allowed kite flying in Lahore.

It has been stated in the notice that the government should xamine the previsions for the purpose of granting compensation of the victims, after recovering the same from the Kite Flying Association as well as the authority who had allowed such a culture in Pakistan. 

The notice stated that the Governor of Punjab had suspended operation of the Punjab Prohibition of Dangerous Kite Flying Activities Ordinance, 2001, with effect from evening of 14th March till morning following the 15th March, hereby giving a free hand to the kite flyers 

It may be mentioned here that one Muhammad Aslam Saeed also filed a writ petition in Lahore High Court against the Punjab Government challenging the action of the Punjab Government. 

When contacted, Media Advisor to Governor Punjab, Farrukh Shah expressed his ignorance about any legal notice received by the staff of the Governor’s House.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=172075

Basant celebrations for some, sorrow for others

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Salman Aslam & Sajid Bashir

LAHORE:

Basant is not only a kite flying event but also a time of sorrow and grief for families whose loved ones especially children fall prey to this bloody event.

The ban on riding motorcycles has caused serious problems for the poor and middle class people for whom motorcycle is the only means of transportation. As soon as the ban came into effect, a large number of motorcyclists were hauled by police and traffic wardens. Scores of motorcycles were seen lined up at main city crossings and traffic signals. Motorcyclists alleged that police received heavy bribes from them for allowing them to return home on their bikes. 

Almost two decades ago, kite flying was considered a very special day. It signified the onset of spring and was celebrated in almost all parts of the country with great fervour and gaiety. People of all ages were seen flying kites of all shapes and sizes. The clear blue sky beckoned everyone, and people surrendered themselves to the joy of kite flying. And thus, the sky remained dotted with vivid splashes of colour from dawn to dusk. But there used to be no casualties but only minor accidents. New methods of sharpening strings with lethal chemicals and crushed glass have not only deprived many families of their dear ones but also the people associated with this industry of their source of income.

Thanks to deadly twine, kite flying now poses a serious threat to motorcyclists and pedestrians in busy residential areas and has also been known to cause power shutdowns. Dozens of people, majority of them children, had been killed or injured by twine. The deaths were caused by razor-like kite twine featuring metal strips and abrasives designed to slice through an opponent’s string. The string, however, posed more threat to pedestrians and motorcyclists, seriously injuring them and in some cases even decapitating them.

People who romance weapons saluted the Punjab government for allowing the ‘game of death’ by firing countless shots in the air. The use of hazardous materials in preparation of twine is going on across the provincial metropolis, leaving a big question mark over the performance of those assigned the task to stop the use of glass coating and chemical strings in the kite twine. 

Interestingly, the All Pakistan Kite Flying Association, Lahore, members staged a demonstration at the Lahore Press Club on Friday night, alleging that the government did not allow them to open their shops despite receiving Rs2,500 from each shopkeeper. They said the problem occurred after the city district government failed to issue the notification of lifting the ban on activities related to kite flying in order to allow people to celebrate Basant. 

The sale and purchase of kites and lethal kite twines had begun a week ago as kite lovers started collecting kites and twines for Basant festival. Keeping in view police action, people in the kite business had formed a new strategy as deals between kite sellers and purchasers were taking place secretly. Shopkeepers had shifted kites and twines from shops to unknown places and whenever a deal was struck, the consignment was delivered from a safe location to avoid arrests and raids.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=167211