Basant on trial: LHC reviews controversial ban on songs and kites

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday took up a petition challenging the ban on printing pictures on kites and playing certain songs during the Basant festival, but directed the petitioner to first remove office objections raised by the court registry.

Justice Awais Khalid heard the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood, which questions the legality of a notification issued by the district administration imposing restrictions on Basant-related activities.

During the hearing, the court noted that the High Court office had objected to the maintainability of the petition. The bench directed the petitioner’s counsel to submit the relevant ban notification and complete required documentation. “After removing the office objections, the case will be heard,” the court remarked.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the ban on printing pictures of any political leader on kites and the prohibition of songs during Basant was unlawful and reflected political malice. He maintained that songs, including Nik Da Koka, were wrongly banned despite not being obscene or political in nature.

The counsel further contended that the ban was imposed because one of the lyrics in the song allegedly mentions the founder of PTI, which, he argued, could not be justified as grounds for restricting cultural expression during a traditional festival like Basant.

Terming the notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) as illegal, the petitioner requested the court to declare the ban on pictures and songs null and void.

The court adjourned further proceedings until the removal of office objections, after which the petition will be taken up for regular hearing.