Petition filed in LHC seeking action after Basant related injuries and deaths

A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking criminal proceedings and accountability against responsible officials following the deaths of six people and injuries to 124 citizens during the recent Basant celebrations.

According to media reports, the petition was submitted by Azhar Siddique, head of the Judicial Activism Panel. He cited official data from the Punjab Home Department showing six fatalities and 124 injuries, he argued that these figures contradict the government’s claims that Basant had been a “safe festival”.

Punjab had granted special permission for Basant festivities in Lahore under strict legal, administrative, and safety measures. However, the petitioner contended that the event “turned into a deadly threat” for citizens.

According to the petition, dozens of children were injured in incidents involving falls from rooftops and climbing electricity poles. It also claimed that state institutions failed to prevent the manufacture, transportation, and sale of hazardous “killer” kite string.

Furthermore, the petition urges the LHC to initiate criminal and departmental action against officials and enforce laws banning the production, supply, and use of deadly kite strings.

The court has yet to announce a date for hearing the petition.