Petition challenges fireworks at PSL final

LAHORE: A petition has been moved in the Lahore High Court seeking action over the use of chemical fireworks during the Pakistan Super League Season 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium.

The plea was filed by Ashba Kamran and names the Punjab government along with other relevant authorities as respondents. According to the petition, the use of chemical fireworks during the final on May 3, 2026, was in violation of citizens’ fundamental rights under Article 9 of the Constitution.

The petitioner argued that anti-smog restrictions are being enforced on the public, including farmers, but fireworks were allowed during a major sporting event. The plea says this amounted to discriminatory treatment and showed weak implementation of environmental rules.

It was further stated in the petition that Lahore is already dealing with serious air pollution and that the Environmental Protection Department did not take sufficient steps to prevent environmental damage during the event.

Relief sought in the petition

The petition has asked the court to impose an environmental penalty on the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. It seeks a fine equal to 25 per cent of PSL revenue.

The petitioner has also requested that the amount be deposited into the Punjab Green Fund for environmental protection initiatives.

The case centres on the environmental impact of fireworks used during the PSL final and raises the issue of whether restrictions applied in the name of anti-smog enforcement were implemented uniformly.

The petition specifically contends that allowing chemical fireworks at a high-profile event in Lahore was inconsistent with broader environmental controls already being imposed on residents and other sectors.

It also places responsibility on the relevant authorities, including the Punjab government and the Environmental Protection Department, over what the petitioner described as a failure to prevent environmental harm during the match.

The matter has now been brought before the Lahore High Court through the constitutional petition, which seeks judicial intervention on both enforcement of environmental protections and the proposed financial penalty linked to PSL earnings.

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