PHA removes sculpture from park after social media outcry

Following a huge uproar on social media, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore has removed the grossly inaccurate sculpture of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park on Tuesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had taken notice of the social media post, highlighting the unrealistic depiction of the national poet, which was attracting criticism and derision from across the country.

He had directed the authority to immediately remove the large bust from the public park and sought report from the PHA director general about the disrespectful depiction.

The chief minister also ordered a departmental inquiry to identify the responsible persons so action could be taken against them.

“It is a result of sheer negligence of the authority and officials concerned,” he underlined.

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A social media user had highlighted the flawed sculpture in a photo with a statement: “Iqbal’s sculpture in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Lahore. There is nothing wrong about the sculpture except the part that it doesn’t really look like Iqbal.”

The tweet attracted immense criticism and mockery on the micro blogging site and a large number of social media users demanded its immediate removal.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PHA DG Jawad Qureshi said the authority has suspended two officials, a deputy director and an assistant director, over negligence charges.

“No matter what was the sentiment behind the creative depiction, they should have sought permission from a competent authority before installing the sculpture in the public park,” he stressed.

Sources said the national poet’s bust was sculpted by the gardeners to pay tribute to him which went terribly wrong garnering negative publicity for the authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2021.