Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: No operation has been launched by police and district administration against the kite sellers and makers of chemical coated string being used in kite flying even after five days of death of a child due to kite flying as string slit the throat of the victim.

The sale of kites, metallic kite string and chemical chord is continue with impunity in Raja Bazaar and other markets and in the jurisdiction of Ganjmandi and City Police Stations despite imposition of ban by Chief Minister Punjab.

The kite sellers and manufacturers have set up secret go-downs in these areas wherein kites and string worth million of rupees are stocked at a time. Monthly is fixed for police officers and its major share is passed on to the senior officers.

The local police snatch kites and string from children and deposit them in the “Mall Khanas” in order to satisfy the government. DCO and CPO Rawalpindi have failed to devise any strategy against the kite flyers and kite sellers in Rawalpindi.

Business of metallic string in the name of kite selling has allegedly become source of reasonable income for the police and district management. Police and corrupt elements of district administration increase their rates following a fatal incident. The cost of kite and string is also enhanced as a kite costing Rs 50 is sold out at the rate ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 150 and likewise the cost of chemical coated string increases two folds.

Being costly and fatal, the use of metallic string is next to nil because if 1000 yards metallic string is sold out at the rate of Rs 1500 and the chemical coated string of equal quantity is sold out at the rate ranging between Rs 300 to 500.

The metallic string proves fatal for kite flyer as it claims his life if it touches electricity cable. Therefore, kite flyers don’t prefer it. Compared to it the kite flyers prefer to use chemical coated string which is available at cheaper rates. The incidents of slitting of throats of passersby occur due to this string.

Chemical coated string gets elongated in the event of its entanglement and it does not leave its victim unless he loses his life or sustains critical injuries on his body.

Following the death of Muhammad Talha 12 resident of Said Puri gate on May, 13 only SHO Waris Khan and TMO Rawal Town were suspended forthwith and no drive has been initiated against the kite mafia.

The kite flying reaches its peak particularly on Friday and Sunday every week all over Rawalpindi city. In pursuance of chief minister Punjab strict orders on imposition of ban on kite flying, Regional police officer Rawalpindi Fakhar Wasal and CPO Rawalpindi Israr Abbasi had issued directives to SHO’s of all police stations that stern action would be taken against any SHO in whose police station jurisdiction kite flying or any incident related to kite flying takes place.

Rawalpindi police have introduced modern drone camera in the month of March on the eve of Basant to curb kite flying menace in Rawalpindi but drone camera system evaporated after inaugural and experimental flight.

The suspension of TMO Rawal Town and Returning Officer (RO) Mir Muhammad Akmal in the back drop of death of 12 years child in kite flying incident on Murree Road in the area of Waris Khan Police Station became controversial.

District Election Commission Rawalpindi has made it clear election commission has nothing to do with suspension of TMO nor was it consulted in this respect and he would continue to perform his function as RO in the event of issuance of electoral schedule for local bodies reserved seats. His suspension is internal matter of TM Rawal Town.

Sources while declaring matter of his suspension illegal said that he was suspended due to personal grudge. Sources further claimed that the suspension orders don’t bear the signatures of administrative officer of local government. TMO has been suspended at the behest of administrator Rawal Town Imran Qureshi.

Sources revealed that only it was said in the suspension orders TMO is suspended with immediate effect on account of his poor performance.

TMO said in his reply that issuance of suspension orders from Rawal town is outcome of some misperception. As he is performing the function of RO for union councils 9 to 16 therefore, his suspension order will cause disruption in discharging the responsibilities in election commission. This action which has been taken without bringing into the notice of election commission and obtaining permission from it is illegal.

Talking to Daily Times, district election commissioner Nadim Zubair said that election commission has no relevance with the matter of suspension of TMO Mir Muhammad Akmal. Election commission has not objection over his performance nor is he facing any charge of corruption or corrupt practices. He is performing his duties in befitting manner. The matter of reserved seats is sub-judice. However if schedule for these polls is announced Mir Akmal will continue to perform the duty of RO in union councils from 9 to 16. I have talked to secretary local government Punjab on the matter of suspension who has said that he will continue to stay as RO.