LANDI KOTAL: Local elders and members of a religious organisation have decried changing of the name of the square near the agency headquarters hospital by the political administration.

The local administration on August 14 hoisted national flag at the renovated Milad Chowk and named it Iqra chowk without taking into confidence local elders or members of Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat.

It was for the first time that the national flag was hoisting ceremony was held outside the offices of the political administration.

The religious organisation named the hospital chowk as Milad chowk after holding a huge public gathering at the site in 2002, which was led by former MNA Noorul Haq Qadri, who is also a founding member of the organisation.

Earlier, the local residents would refer the place with the names like Polka chowk and Disco chowk.

When approached for his comments, assistant political agent Tayyab Abdullah said the Milad chowk wouldn’t be renamed as local residents opposed it.

However, he said that the idea of renovating the square was part of the beautification of the area.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2014