Daily Times

Being the youngest member of a kite flying family I was exposed to ‘Luteray’ early in life. The team lead is called the ‘Pecha Master’ (One who cuts the opponents kite) is usually an elder member of the family as the competition is highly technical. In the support role is the ‘Chota’ (Young) who is trained to hold the ‘Pinna’ (Glass coated thread bundle) which has now been replaced by the ‘Churkari’ (A mechanical device to wind/unwind the coated threat called ‘DOR’). It is this device which has to be banned to get rid of the ‘Chemical Dor’. At the lowest end is the ‘Lutera’ who acts as the vulture or scavenger. It takes greed and passion to go for the loot. ‘Luterays’ are organized, well equipped and rightly positioned. In the process some of them even get hurt as it is risky business.

There are some rules of the game. ‘Luteray’ become operative once the ‘Pecha’ is over otherwise there is trouble. They also cannot interfere in the contest in any way otherwise they have to face the wrath of the ‘Pecha Master’ and his team. As ‘Chota’ my role was to ensure free and uninterrupted supply of ‘Dor’ for the contest and to keep an eye on the ‘Luteray’. It was a thankless job which required a lot of commitment and honest hard work. The charm of loot was always overwhelming and enchanting. For a kit flyer, the prospect of free kite and ‘Dor’ is a dream come true. Only once in my kite flying innings I abandoned the ‘Pinna’ and became a ‘Lutera’ as there was so much to loot on that basant day in the sixties.

Unfortunately, the rules of the game have changed in the eighties. ‘Luteray’ have taken over the arena. With the introduction of the ‘Chemical Dor’ there was no need for the ‘Peecha Master’ and his techniques for the contest or the donkey work of the ‘Chota’. As a popular sport, kite flying is now history. The present government was in favour of celebrating ‘Basant’ this spring but could not ensure safety of the participants and the non-participating citizens. In order to restore the event, the ‘Charkari’ has to be banned as it accommodates the ‘Chemical Dor’ while the ‘Pinna’ does not.

‘Luteray’ have to be controlled and managed. As scavengers they have to be stopped from attacking the living otherwise life would come to an end. Today the country is in their grip. After dismembering Quaid’s Pakistan they now threaten the existence of what is left. While the nation is mired in debt they continue to enjoy their loot. In the last ten years $60 billions have been added to the external debt. There are huge budget deficits and insurmountable trade imbalances.

It is not easy to recover looted money. Convictions through common law practice are almost impossible. NAB laws are draconian but more effective in the recovery of loot. Their right to arrest the accused for investigation has been accepted by the Supreme Court

It is not easy to recover looted money. Convictions through common law practice are almost impossible. NAB laws are draconian but more effective in the recovery of loot. Their right to arrest the accused for investigation has been accepted by the Supreme Court. In the sixties when politicians were by and large honest, the courts provided relief to the dissenters and activists. Such benevolence to the ‘Luteray’ is raising eyebrows.

What we have today is a government of the ‘Luteray’, by the ‘Luteray’ for the ‘Luteray’. Anyone interested in a non-‘Luteray’ existence is persona non grata in the corridors of power. As an elected Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is right in his narrative of no ‘deal’ or ‘dhel’. ‘Luterays’ have to bring back their loot for the nation to move forward and come out of the debt trap.

‘Luterays’ are now on the run. Some have sought refuge abroad. For the first time since July 05, 1977 the leader at the top is clean and honest who means business. As a nation we have suffered enough at the hands of the unscrupulous. Our resources have been mismanaged and squandered. On the human resource development index we have fallen behind. With a youth population of about 60% we need to utilize their energy for the development of both the self and the nation otherwise it is a doomsday scenario.

Once we are able to contain the ‘Luteray’ may be kite flying can then be revived but without the ‘Chemical Dor’ that has ruined the sport. Over the years as I have aged and have outgrown my role of the ‘Chota’ the facilitator. Moreover the elders have also perished. Now it is up to me and my elder brother to carry on the family traditions of the kite flying with clean and credible ‘Pechas’ as it used to be in the sixties and seventies. It is time to cut the ‘Luteray’ to size by assigning them their traditional role of chasing the stray kites only, leaving the arena for fair competition for the ablest of ‘Pecha Masters’. Let us get rid of the ‘Luteray’, vultures and scavengers to protect the living.

The writer is Ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation