RAWALPINDI: Hundreds of the young people flew kites from the rooftops in Rawalpindi on Friday, celebrating a ancient colorful festival despite a ban imposed by the authorities in 2007 after a wave of accidents.
Enthusiasts have in the past used acid-soaked piano strings and wire in kite fighting battles causing terrible injuries a people caught by tangles through the streets, including the slit of the throat of motorcyclists.
Victorious participants and their supporters firing In the air power also cause death or injury when the rounds falls back to the ground.
The ban didn’t stop until Friday celebration of Basant, a kite festival marking the arrival of spring and the stormy winds it brings.
«The festival no worth a human life, but young Pakistanis don’t have many options for entertainment, “said Raja Rameez, 21-year-old pharmacist who dozens of guests of friends to watch from his roof.
Hundreds of the young people played cat and mouse with more 1,500 police officers, who used binoculars and drones to try to locate the locations of the flyers of the kites.
The AFP has seen officers attack groups of batons of young people and bundle some in back of crammed paddy wagons.
Police said at least 220 people they were arrested; offenders can be fined up to 100,000 rupees (about $ 570).
“It is quite challenging for us as people are the lives in game, ”said Waseem Riaz, a senior superintendent of Police.
The East city of Lahore was the main center for the Basant festival, attracting thousands of people of local and foreign tourists, with railways in execution special packed trains and hotels.
Until the ban, the event it was generally a family deal, with girls traditionally wearing yellow to celebrate the occasion.
“This is not half of as it once was when it was us young”Murad Alam said, watching the proceedings from his roof with his children.
“I feel for my children… have no entertainment opportunities in this country.”
