QUETTA: In a bid to prevent casualties during the Basant festival, SSP Operations Quetta Asif Khan has issued a stern warning against aerial firing and the use of metal or chemical-coated kite strings, declaring that violators will face indiscriminate legal action.
In an official message to citizens, the SSP emphasized that the celebration of joy must not turn into a source of nuisance or tragedy. The police have imposed a complete ban on aerial firing, warning that cases will be registered under strict legal provisions against those found violating the order. Additionally, the sale and use of metal wire and chemically treated manjhe—which often prove fatal for motorcyclists and birds—have been strictly prohibited.
“A moment of carelessness can become a lifelong sorrow for any family,” SSP Khan stated. “Our aim is not to harass citizens but to ensure the safety of their lives and property.” He confirmed that law enforcement agencies are active across the city and that immediate action will be taken against offenders.
According to police officials, plainclothes personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas of Quetta to monitor rooftops for aerial firing and the use of banned strings. The move comes as Quetta has witnessed a rising trend in Basant celebrations in recent years, prompting authorities to tighten security in advance.
Pakistan has seen numerous fatalities during Basant, particularly in Lahore and Rawalpindi, where deaths from aerial firing and throat-slitting by stray kite strings have been repeatedly reported. In view of these incidents, the Quetta administration aims to avert any untoward situation this season.
Local social circles have welcomed the police initiative, urging parents to keep children away from dangerous activities such as kite flying with prohibited strings and celebratory gunfire
