Hardliners opposed, Pak Government put on hold plan to rename roundabout after Bhagat Singh

Lahore: Giving in to the pressure from hardline groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and a section of local residents, Pakistani authorities have put on hold a move to rename a roundabout in Lahore after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

The City District Government of Lahore had announced last month that Shadman Chowk would be renamed Bhagat Singh Chowk to acknowledge his revolutionary spirit and his role in the movement against the erstwhile British rulers of the subcontinent.

“We received a strongly worded letter from the JuD that warned us not to rename Shadman Chowk after a Hindu freedom fighter. Besides, we also got a negative response from some individuals,” an official of the City District Government told.

During a public hearing on the issue, several persons rejected the idea of renaming Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh, said the official who did not want to be named.

The official, who is close to the district administration chief, said Mengal was criticised by different segments of society and groups like the JuD and Jamaat-e-Islami for “paying tribute to Bhagat Singh” and his plan to rename the roundabout.

“The JuD and others want the Chowk to be renamed as ‘Hurmat-e-Rasool’. They even put up banners renaming Shadman Chowk on their own.Under such circumstances, how can the government go ahead with its proposed plan?” Anwar said.

Bhagat Singh was hanged in March 1931 in the erstwhile Lahore Jail, which stood at the spot where the roundabout was built later.

The Dilkash Lahore committee has been tasked with renaming historic locations, restoring historical buildings and designating historic spots of Lahore.

The panel is also expected to discuss the future of Basant, the spring festival that has lost much of its colour since kite flying was banned by the Punjab government headed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.