FAISALABAD’S Iqbal Park is famous because Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah once gave a historic speech here. Some years ago I was passing by and saw that the old boundary wall was being pulled down. I wondered why the wall was being demolished. The car’s driver said sarcastically: to use sarya (iron grills) from the Sharifs factories. This happened 25 years ago.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the tearing down of boundary walls of Lahore’s Governor House. There are many lacunae in this order. First, this is a historic building; second, this building is part of the nation’s history. Why on earth would one want to obliterate a part of our history? Most important no one has the right to dismantle or change even a millimetre of a landmark that is part of the nation’s struggle for freedom.

Further, won’t this impulsive act give a justification to our eastern neighbours to rid themselves of hundreds of buildings built by different Muslim rulers?

I am 82 years old who was a young lad when partition took place. Good or bad, these edifices are part of our history. I sincerely admire the prime minister for his determination and sincerity and pray that he master the workings of the democratic systems and take this nation out of the wilderness to a prosperous and bright future.

Syed Hasan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2019