LAHORE, March 15: The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab has suspended its tourism officer who was supposed to oversee Wednesday’s antique car rally arrangements at Hazoori Bagh.

In a statement on Friday, the corporation, however, rejected reports that it was instrumental in damaging the monument.

It said the rally from Hazoori Bagh to Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, was organized through sponsors to promote tourism. A flower vendor, whom it identified as Mansha, drove the nail into the marble wall of the Baradari.

“The action of the vendor and sponsors is highly regretted. The TDCP has taken a serious view of this incident and has suspended Mr Kamran Arif, tourism officer, who was supposed to oversee the arrangements,” the release said.

It said when a senior corporation officer visited the monument a night before the rally, addicts had lit fire on the marble floor.