Author: News Desk

Office of Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) has formally notified the terms and conditions for celebrating Basant, which will take place from February 6 to 8.

According to reports, the notification issued does not specify any particular area for flying kites, which means the government could be allowing festivities throughout the district.

The Lahore DC announced that manufacturers and traders can produce and trade permissible kite flying material from December 30 to February 8, provided they have valid digital registration under Rule 3 of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules 2025 – a comprehensive legal framework governing kite flying.

Registered sellers can sell permissible kite flying material to the general public exclusively from February 1 to 8, following the notified rules and regulations.

Registration for manufacturers, traders and sellers opened Monday through the government’s e-biz app or the festival’s website. The notification prohibits anyone from manufacturing, trading, storing or selling permissible kite flying material without registering with the DC’s office.

The notification also said that only kite flying material specified in Schedule-I of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules 2025 can be manufactured, traded, stored, sold or used during the notified period.

Kites must not exceed 35 inches in width and 30 inches in length, while guddas must not exceed 40 inches in width and 34 inches in length.

The kite string must consist of cotton with no more than nine threads and no less than 28-count coated with maanjha, with a minimum sheesha size of 350 mash. Manufacturers must wind the string in the shape of a pinna (twine balls), as the use of charkhi (spool) remains strictly prohibited.

The notification strictly prohibits manufacturing, trading, transporting, storing, selling, possessing or using sharp maanjha, nylon or plastic cords, metallic wire or any other injurious material coated on the thread.

All registered manufacturers, traders and sellers must clearly display valid registration certificates at approved premises, as Rule 3(6) of the regulation requires.

Registered manufacturers, traders and sellers must also maintain complete records of stock, sales and movement and produce them on demand to any authorised officer.

All registered kite flying associations must remain in close coordination with the DC and authorised officers for the smooth and safe conduct of the kite flying event while complying with their assigned responsibilities under the regulation.

The notification also directs all motorcycles operating within Lahore district to comply with safety specifications outlined in the kite flying regulation. The DC specifically calls for all motorcycle riders in Lahore district to install safety wires to protect their lives.

The notification directs all government departments, attached departments, agencies and organisations to assist the district administration and police in enforcing strict compliance with all terms and conditions as per law, rules and regulations to ensure public safety.

The Punjab government has issued strict instructions to divisional commissioners, DCs and district police officers to notify Basant dates after making arrangements to keep the festival safe and ensure no damage occurs to people’s lives and wellbeing.

DCs in their respective districts will need to issue similar notifications and ensure compliance with the conditions and restrictions outlined in the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Rules 2025.

Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in Karachi have rescued a minor girl from a Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) plot to use her as a suicide bomber after militants contacted and radicalised her through Instagram and other social media platforms.

According to reports, Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar revealed the details at a joint press conference in Karachi alongside Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General Azad Khan and Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho. 

He explained that militants approached the child online and gradually indoctrinated her over time.

“Terrorists contacted the girl through social media, narrated fabricated stories and brainwashed her,” Lanjar said, adding that militants had prepared her to become a suicide bomber before law enforcement intervened.

The home minister emphasised that militant propaganda relies on falsehoods and urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity. “[Their] terrorists’ narrative is based on lies. Through social media, they spread a false narrative against the state,” he said.

Lanjar noted that the girl comes from a family with no apparent militant background. 

“She has two brothers, one of whom serves in the police,” he said. He also stressed the state’s commitment to the Baloch community, saying, “The state is standing with the Baloch people.”

CTD Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan provided further details about the radicalization process. He said, “A BLA terrorist first contacted the girl on Instagram and later added her to a WhatsApp group, where militants exposed her to hate-filled content and anti-state narratives.”

“Initially, she was given extremist material, followed by continuous indoctrination,” Azad Khan said. He explained that the girl used social media like other children her age and had no family history of militancy.

Khan revealed that militants had taken the child out of Karachi as part of the plot, but authorities intercepted her during snap checking outside the city. “Because of her age, we do not consider her a suspect,” he said, adding that authorities will not pursue the matter through the criminal justice system.

Authorities informed the family of the entire situation after recovering the girl. “They will be provided protection,” Khan added.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Shehrbano Naqvi has broken silence on allegations by Dr Ali Zain Ul Abideen of Lahore, who claimed the cop pressured him into pay millions of rupees to a patient over a medical dispute.

Denying the allegations, Naqvi shared a detailed clarification on her Instagram story and revealed that she only met both parties once, on May 9, 2025, at her office.

She made it clear that she was not involved in any financial transactions and did not harass, coerce or pressure anyone.

SP Naqvi added that “the admission of guilt and cheques had been provided before the case reached her office, and the apology letter from the clinic was issued without any police involvement”.

Any monetary exchange that later took place occurred after she had left her previous office for her new appointment.

SP Naqvi said she had been appointed Model Town SP in October/first week of November and had nothing to do with the office of Defence assistance superintendent of police (ASP) Defence since.

Additionally, the officer called on public to not share false information on social media, saying that spreading misinformation was a sin and her name should not be used for personal benefit or publicity.

She also said that those spreading misinformation should thank her for not pursuing legal action against them for spreading misinformation.

Earlier, Dr Ali Zain had in an interview alleged that he was forced to provide three cheques totaling Rs10 million to a female patient who underwent laser eye surgery at his clinic in April.

He claimed SP Naqvi, then Defence ASP, had instructed him to reimburse the patient despite the surgery being medically successful.
 

The doctor also alleged that his clinic guard was detained during a visit by police personnel and argued that police have no jurisdiction over medical procedures, which should be evaluated by a qualified medical board.