Pak-based Foundation files contempt petition in Lahore HC for not naming Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh despite order

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Pak-based Foundation files contempt petition in Lahore HC for not naming Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh despite order

HARISH MONGA

Ferozepur, March 2, 2024: A contempt petition has been filed in a Pakistani court by Pakistan-based Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation, Chairman, Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi,  against the Punjab provincial government and the district administration for not naming the Shadman Chowk in Lahore after Indian Independence war hero Bhagat Singh.

Every year, Shaheedi Divas is observed at National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala to pay floral tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Bhagat Singh had fought for the independence of India from British rule.  He was hanged by British rulers on March 23, 1931, along with fellow freedom fighters Rajguru and Sukhdev after being tried under charges of hatching a conspiracy against the regime. LHC in 2018 had ordered the government to name the Shadman Chowk after Singh where he was hanged in 1931.

Qureshi, who is an advocate by profession and social activist, is fighting to prove the innocence of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev, naming Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh Chowk, releasing stamps in their names, in the court of law. Now, the fresh contempt of court petition against Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Lahore deputy commissioner and city district administrator Rafia Haider for not naming a roundabout in Lahore city after Bhagat Singh.

Added here, a bench of Lahore High Court in its order on Sept 5, 2018, had asked the authorities to decide on a plea of Qureshi for naming Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh by law.

While disposing of the writ petition in Sept 2018, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan mentioned that the same grievance was raised in 2012, which was disposed of as bearing fruit on the undertaking of the respondents that any application, if moved, shall be considered by law.

Speaking on the phone, Qureshi said from Lahore that nothing has been done so far despite the passing of more than 5 years. A fresh writ petition has been filed under Article 204 of the Constitution of Pakistan, read with sections 3-4 of the Contempt of Court Act, 2003. The next hearing date in the petition is expected to be taken up for hearing on March 4.