LAHORE: The renaming of Waris Mir underpass (campus) as Kashmir underpass has raised a few eyebrows.

Significantly, no one in the Punjab government or the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation owns up to the decision to rename the underpass.

The Waris Mir Foundation has described the move as an “act of hatred”.

“The late Prof Waris Mir taught journalism for about 30 years and was a renowned intellectual and columnist. He (Prof Mir) was honoured with the highest civil award of the country -- Hilal-e-Imtiaz -- by the state of Pakistan...

No official takes responsibility for the move

“In recognition of his meritorious contribution for the country, the New Campus Underpass was named after him in March 2013 by the Punjab government...,” said a press release issued by the foundation.

It said: “But Waris Mir was not the only one to be recognized by the state in March 2013. More than a dozen underpasses across the city were named after outstanding intellectuals and prominent personalities such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ashfaq Ahmed, Habib Jalib, Justice A. R. Cornelius, Ustad Daman, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, Khushaal Khan Khatak, Liaqat Ali Khan, Chakar e Azam Rind, Justice A. R. Kiyani and Patras Bokhari.

“These names had been decided through a procedure in several meetings of the City District Government, headed by a former judge of the Supreme Court.”

People from various callings, including the civil society activists, have also decried the move.

“Changing name of Waris Mir underpass and renaming it Kashmir underpass is a political move. It is ridiculous to see that now the government has started fighting the Kashmir cause by renaming underpasses / city spots and unilaterally removing names of progressive leaders,” deplored Farooq Tariq, a spokesperson for the Awami Workers Party (AWP).

Speaking to Dawn, he announced that the AWP would hold a protest demonstration against this act.

In 2013, the City District Government of Lahore got down to name 26 city spots including the underpasses on Canal Road. The task was undertaken on the initiative of the then Punjab chief minister who approved a summary.

Interestingly, no one in the current city administration was ready to take responsibility for the renaming of the underpass -- this fuelled rumours that the move had come from ‘above’.

“I don’t know who has done this. But I will surely check this,” said Lahore Commissioner Asif Bilal Lodhi.

“The chief minister has directed us to name one park and road in each divisional headquarters after Kashmir. But as far as changing name of Waris Mir underpass is concerned, I am unaware of it,” he said.

The Lahore Metropolitan Corporation that deals with such issues under the law, also came up with a denial.

“We don’t know who did this act. It comes under our purview and changing / renaming the city spots requires an exhaustive procedure -- issuance of public notice, invitation of public objections, issuing notification etc. We are unaware of the move,” claimed Amin Akbar Chopra, MCL spokesman.

LDA Director General Usman Moazzam too expressed his ignorance about the issue.

“Since the matter doesn’t come under our purview, we have not renamed this underpass,” his spokesman said.

Journalist Hamir Mir, son of Waris Mir, told Dawn that this had been done by petty-minded people.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2019