A Pakistani government committee has endorsed the renaming of a roundabout in Lahore after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh despite stiff opposition from extremist groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah.
About two weeks ago, the City District Government of Lahore had put on hold a move to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh due to objections from hardline groups like the JuD and Jamaat-e-Islami and a section of local residents.
The matter was then referred to Dilkash Lahore, a committee set up to revitalise and beautify Lahore and to finalise new names for squares, roads and intersections after assessing their historical significant before the creation of Pakistan.
The committee finally rejected all objections and asked the authorities to notify Bhagat Singh Chowk as the new name of the roundabout without any further delay, officials said.
JuD leaders protested against the government's decision on Thursday.
Senior JuD leader Amir Hamza and Zahid Butt, the president of the local traders' body, announced that they would refer to the roundabout as Hurmat-e-Rasool Chowk.
About two weeks ago, the City District Government of Lahore had put on hold a move to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh due to objections from hardline groups like the JuD and Jamaat-e-Islami and a section of local residents.
The matter was then referred to Dilkash Lahore, a committee set up to revitalise and beautify Lahore and to finalise new names for squares, roads and intersections after assessing their historical significant before the creation of Pakistan.
The committee finally rejected all objections and asked the authorities to notify Bhagat Singh Chowk as the new name of the roundabout without any further delay, officials said.
JuD leaders protested against the government's decision on Thursday.
Senior JuD leader Amir Hamza and Zahid Butt, the president of the local traders' body, announced that they would refer to the roundabout as Hurmat-e-Rasool Chowk.