Daily Times

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday postponed the hearing of a petition seeking directives to the Punjab and local governments to rename Shadman Chowk after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, who was hanged at the same square during the British reign in the sub-continent.

Now Justice Shahid Jamil Khan will hold preliminary hearing of this petition on March 22. Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation’s chairman Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi had moved this petition.

Rashid Qureshi, counsel for the petitioner, stated that freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was hanged by the British after a sham trial for his alleged involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case at the age of twenty-three on March 23, 1931. He stated that Bhagat Singh was a freedom fighter of sub-continent who gave his life along with his companions for the cause of freedom.

He said that it would be in the interest of justice to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh and also install a statute of the great freedom fighter at the square so as to inspire the people of Pakistan and the world.

He said that in the neighbouring India there were many roads and thoroughfares named after Muslim rulers like Akbar Road, Shah Jahan Road and Bahadar Shah Road. He added that India had also published tickets with the image of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Ali Garh University, and his statue was also installed there.

Published in Daily Times, March 6^th 2018.