LAHORE : The Dilkash Lahore Committee has apparently dropped the idea of renaming Shadman Chowk after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in the face of opposition from rightwing religious groups and decided to instead rename it after poet Habib Jalib.
A press release issued on Wednesday night after a meeting of the committee said that it had recommended the following changes to the provincial government: Shadman Chowk be renamed after Habib Jalib, Bekhewal Chowk after Waris Mir, the Model Town Park roundabout after Hafeez Jullundhri, Hafeez Centre Chowk after Masood Khadarpoosh, Old Club Road after Hashim Khan, GC Chowk after Professor Ashfaq Ahmad, Kucheri Chowk after Professor Nazir, the GT Road Interchange after Sher Shah Suri and the DHA Interchange after Sir Justice Mian Abdul Rasheed.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Noorul Amin Mengal had earlier said that Shadman Chowk would be renamed after Bhagat Singh, the freedom fighter hanged at the spot almost a century ago, to acknowledge his struggle against British rule. The move drew opposition from the Tehreeki-Hurmat-i-Rasool, which challenged the move in the Lahore High Court. At the last hearing on November 30, the court had extended a stay order on the renaming of the chowk after Bhagat Singh.
The DCO told the committee on Wednesday that the suggested name changes had been advertised in the press. The press release from the city government did not mention the earlier plan to rename the chowk after Bhagat Singh.
Meeting
Addressing the committee meeting, Dilkash Lahore Chairman Justice (retired) Khalilur Rehman Ramday said that minorities were the most important part of any society and the majority should respect them and their properties, according to the press release.
The DCO told the committee that Rs100 million had been earmarked for the Dilkash Lahore project, which aims to beautify the city and highlight its cultural wealth. He said that an archive of information on various historic parts of the city and its famous residents, called the Soona Lahore Research Centre, was being set up at the Town Hall was 90 per cent complete.
The DCO said that the Lahore Electric Supply Company had been paid for the removal of electrical wires and transformers from The Mall. Justice (retired) Ramday directed the DCO to pay heed to a suggestion from committee member Rafay Alam regarding the removal of electrical wires.
The chairman also ordered that the owner of the NICL building be directed to pay at least partly for the renovation of the building. He said that memorial stones with the name and history of important personalities should be built near their houses in the city.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, journalist Rameeza Nizami, cartoonist Javed Iqbal, Dr Allama Khubair Azad, Quran Board Chairman Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Sialvi, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin, Sohail Warraich, Dr Ajaz Anwar, Saleema Hashmi, Naveed Shehzad, Javed Iqbal, Nayyar Ali Dada, Maulana Raghib Naeemi, the president of the Lahore Bar Association, Executive District Officer (Municipal Services) Khan Mehmood Tamana, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Assistant Commissioner (City) Saira Umar and District Officer (SP) Umm-e-Laila also attended the meeting.
COMMENTS (11)
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Really touched to see respect for Bhagat Singh who fought for undivided India. :)
@NH: "....We have many names of the streets and localities names after Sikhs,in Lahore,like Qila Gujjar Singh,Mandi Heera Singh, then whats the trouble with “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s” name.He was part of the history of Lahore and history relates to everyone...."
They say it is actually a preemptive measure. With the rise of Panjabi Neo Nationalism, it is feared that renaming of Mughal Pura into Ranjeet Pura was in the offing.
Dear brothers,with due respect if the all community of the area is totally against the new name''Bhagat Singh'' than what should we do?and if it is proved that Bhagat Singh,s all activities were based on Terrorism and he was an Atheist as he wrote his own Theses ''Why I am an Atheist?'' than what you will say?He was convicted for attack on Dosehira Festival.He killed two policemen who were also not involved in the murder of Lala Lajpat Ray.He attacked the Delhi Assembly through grenades.how attack on an assembly where Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also present can be a freedom struggle?this is the reality and you all are talking on just emotions.Please learn first than speak.
yes i agree completely. i also agree with what Mr. Usman Malik has said. instead of renaming the chowk back, we should submit a petition to get rid of religious nut-jobs from Pakistan.
Good decision taken...pakistani ppl are " lakeer ke fakeer". If one starts saying something, all others will follow that without even thinking.
We have many names of the streets and localities names after Sikhs,in Lahore,like Qila Gujjar Singh,Mandi Heera Singh, then whats the trouble with "Shaheed Bhagat Singh's" name.He was part of the history of Lahore and history relates to everyone.
Bhagat Singh stands head and shoulders above those who oppose naming a place after him. So ignore those so called religious drop outs who were against creation of Pakistan and have been a negative force ever since. These unfortunate Gods creature use Islam for their own greed, position and street power.
Shame.
no not agree. we respect and love both but the intention of changing name is not good.shaheed bhagat singh should be there and they should nor worry about habib jalib as he himself is lahore.
Even Allah wali Chowrangi was removed in Karachi.. No reports on that?? A historical roundabout removed! and you have an article about renaming, a name that wasnt ever given! Amazing standard of reporting by ET.. :|
Religious Rightwingers are only jelous of Bhaggat Singh Shaheed, they have none of their own freedom fighter to whom they could allot a spot. All of them who are making a fuss now were against the IDEA of Pakistan and called it NaPakistan and Kafiristan, and Indeed they worked hard to make it look both. When Habib Jalib was alive, they threw him into jails now they want a CHOWK to be named after him, dont they have any other spot for him? Are religious idiots ruling us now?