LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has been asked to declare illegal the attribution of government buildings, parks and hospitals to politicians, ruling elites and feudal lords.

A citizen, Mashkoor Hussain, filed a petition in the court alleging that Imam Bibi Maternity Hospital, Sialkot, which was named after the mother of national poet Dr Allama Iqbal, has been renamed after the late father of Defence Minister Khwaja Asif as Khwaja Safdar Hospital.

The petitioner through his counsel Nadeem Sarwar states that the conduct of the provincial government and functionaries shows that the cities, towns, streets and all public institutions are treated as part of some undeclared kingdoms of local feudal and political lords.

He pleads that naming and renaming the institutions, towns, cities, roads and streets is also part of their kingdom rule, which depicts the mindset of our politicians and ruling elites.

He argues that the public institutions and infrastructures are not the property of the government as they belong to all citizens. He says there is no logic in naming or renaming the public places after the politicians and others.

The petitioner contends if taxes or fees are spent in violation of the law, it would amount to breach of public trust and denial of the citizens’ fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

He argues that the public funds should not be used for personal glorification, but government buildings and other places should be attributed to national heroes instead.

He asks the court to declare that naming, renaming any street, road,

government institute, town, or city after the name of any individual having no positive social, role, courage or exceptional dedication to service is illegal, unlawful against the basic rights of citizens of respective areas.

He also asks the court to direct the authorities to remove the signboards and other advertisements showing the names of public places after politicians, ruling elites and feudal lords in the province.

The petitioner furnished a list of 23 public places, hospitals and schools named after different politicians, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2024