Lahore’s famous Bird Market on Allama Iqbal Road was knocked down on Wednesday for road-widening amid protests by the shopkeepers who burnt tyres and cursed the City District Government Limited for snatching their livelihoods for ‘development’. The demolition squad of Gulberg Town and Aziz Bhatti Town reached the spot in the morning to flatten shops at the Bird Market, terming them as hurdles and encroachments for the road-widening project. Before they could do anything, the traders of the area started protesting against the CDGL. However, CDGL officials, accompanied by heavy machinery and police, razed two shops and various shades.
In retaliation, charged protestors blocked the road and started burning tyres. They hurled slogans against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s government and the district coordination officer. An official of Gulberg Town told Pakistan Today that notices were served to all shopkeepers to vacate the land but they had not paid heed. Soon, PML-N senior leader and finance secretary Sardar Ayaz Sadiq rushed to the sight to control the situation. Traders also showed him their property documents but to no effect. He said Allama Iqbal Road extension project was necessary and all the hurdles including encroachment would be removed at any cost. Allama Iqbal Road, from Gharhi Shahu to Mayo Garden, has been dug up for the past many months. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) had excavated the road to lay down sewerage pipelines of large diameters but the construction work continued at a slow pace.
The CDGL, responsible for the inconvenience, delayed finalising the design and to allow the National Logistic Cell (NLC) to initiate the project. The effected road is one of the oldest roads in the city and has historical significance as the national poet, Allama Iqbal, resided in the same area. The main centre of Marzais’ also lies alongside the road. A number of political leaders and judges’ houses and a number of schools, banks, mosques and shops are also present in the locality. The important buildings on this road are the Iqbal Museum, the Railway Headquarters, the Railway Hospital, Jamia Ashrafia, Ghari Shahu Main Bazaar, Mayo Garden and Bird Market.
Due to the postponement of construction, heavy clouds of dust are seen throughout the day, causing inconvenience to traders, residents, school children and worshippers.
