A legal challenge has reached the Lahore High Court regarding the upcoming 10-day Basant festival in Punjab for 2027, with a citizen requesting that the event be cut down to a single day.
Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry will handle the case brought forward by Shahid Islam following scheduling by the registrar office.
The legal filing contests the official plan permitting festivities between January 29 and February 7, urging the judiciary to strike down the announcement.
According to the document, stretching kite flying across 10 days puts people in greater danger. The filing mentions injuries from razor-sharp strings, electric shocks and rooftop falls, stating that 17 individuals died during Basant in 2026, though the court has not verified this number.
Islam also states that extended events will raise noise levels, environmental waste and accidents, which violates basic public rights.
Named respondents in the case include the Punjab government along with top provincial authorities such as the chief secretary, home secretary, deputy commissioner, police inspector general and Lahore capital city police officer.
Khawaja Mohsin Abbas, acting as Additional Advocate General, will defend the provincial administration and plans to question the maintainability of the petition.
