Punjab govt defers roads renaming plan ‘to avert backlash’

LAHORE: The Punjab government has deferred its decision to restore original historical names of roads and streets in Lahore apparently on the pressure of some “extremist elements.” The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival (LAHR) held a huddle last March jointly presided over by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The meeting had approved restoration of original historical names of roads and streets in Lahore and and its neighbourhood. Nawaz Sharif is the head of the LAHR. However, some extremist elements including vloggers took on CM Maryam on the decision by giving it a religious colour. The Punjab administration appears to have gone on the back foot and deferred the decision to avert backlash. “No such decision has been taken as yet,” Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt. Muhammad Ali Ijaz replied to Dawn’s queries on Monday. Lahore DC insists no decision has been taken as yet When asked that both Nawaz Sharif and CM Maryam had given approval to restoration of original (pre-Partition) names of roads and streets, and the CM office duly issued a handout in this regard,” DC Ijaz insisted that no decision had been taken as yet as the matter was under discussion. A few days ago, the LHAR invited a gathering of scholars, historians, architects, urban planners, and prominent citizens seeking their suggestions on what the government called “proposal” to restore the original historical names of roads, streets, and localities across Lahore. The meeting concluded with a consensus that Lahore’s historic identity constituted an invaluable legacy, deserving thoughtful preservation for future generations. “Most of the participants spoke in favour of restoring the historical names of the roads and streets of Lahore,” one of the participants told Dawn. Several historic (pre-Partition) streets and roads in Lahore have been renamed over the years, often replacing British-era or Hindu-associated names with those of Islamic, Pakistani, or local histo