Renaming the Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh is not going to be smooth, as the officials concerned have received more applications against the move than in its favour, Pakistan Today has learnt.
It is the same roundabout where the famous freedom fighter from the subcontinent was hanged by the Raj and there have been calls to rename it after the hero from the pre-partition for many years.
The high ups have taken the decision, but as per rules, the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) has gathered public opinion through newspaper ads if anyone has got some reservations on it.
“The CDGL has received six applications in its favour, while 14 against it so far, with one coming from a religious group as well, but the committee is going to look into it following the procedure,” Rafay Alam, an environmentalist on board the Dilkash Lahore Committee tasked with looking into the matter said. The CDGL has formed a high level committee with renowned individuals such as Justice (r) Khalil ur Rehman Ramday, Saleema Hashmi, Naveed Shahzad and Rafay Alam to revive the beauty of Lahore and its historical buildings.
The government recently changed the names of famous roads while the names of The Mall, Queen’s Road have been changed to Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam and Shahrah-e-Fatima Jinnah Roads respectively.
The committee is tasked with proposing and recommending buildings of historical significance in the city that warrant revitalisation; naming or renaming of chowks, bridges and streets; floating ideas for the beautification of the city. In this regard, three committees have been further formed: One for the beautification of the historical facades; second to suggest and recommend street names and a third committee for special premises.
“Justice (r) Ramday took the initiative in bringing the unique historical city back to its glory and all on board will put in their expertise in achieving the task. The committee has the mandate to either change the names of historical roads and buildings or propose new ones keeping in mind the history and tradition of the historic metropolitan,” Alam said. The committee is further to look into the matter of special premises. Per the special premises law, the government cannot change the façade of a building that has been declared a special premise without getting permission from a specific committee. “There are around 60 odd buildings in the metropolitan which have been declared special premises and we are going to look into it as well,” Alam added.
The committee recently held a meeting with all members on board, while the next meeting is expected on November 9.
It's a shame we are naming a place after an Indian.
If it was a genuine desire then perhaps one could consider but it is not.It is the desire totally personal to a group of selfish individuals with an axe to grind or to please someone for foolish political expediency.They should drop such silly waste of time.
who cares
What morons. He was just as much an Indian as them. Born and raised in Lahore, he even died here. I cant believe how Pakistanis can be such idiots at times.
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