LAHORE, Sept 28: Laxmi Mansion, the once serene residential quarters occupied from time to time by many known personalities, including writers, politicians and actors, is being fast demolished to create space for commercial plazas in full view of the city fathers.

The demolishers do not seem to be interested in the historic value of these buildings situated between Hall Road and Beadon Road. And those supposed to preserve the history are silent also.

One of the portions where mainly Anglo-Indian and Parsi families used to live has been demolished. And eyes are on the remaining portions.

The hapless residents can’t do anything to stop the commercialisation of the area beyond reminding the authorities concerned of the importance of the living quarters in the hope of an early intervention.

The quarters have a park in the middle. Once it was lush green with double-storey brick-red buildings all around.

Among the pre-partition residents were Chaudhry Zafrullah, the first foreign minister of Pakistan and Mani Shankar Ayar, who later became the Indian petroleum minister.

The famous writer, poet and pedagogue Tajwer Najeebabadi and his sons also resided there. Prof G M Asar and Mohammad Baqir, the grandson of Mohammad Husain Azad, were also among permanent residents.

Renowned short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto moved to Pakistan in January 1948 and settled in a flat of the Laxmi Mansion.

Famous politician and once a caretaker prime minister, Malik Meraj Khalid, actress Khursheed Shahid and her actor son Salman Shahid also lived there.

“Isn’t this all enough to know how important it is to stop commercialisation of the place,” said a resident after sharing the information with this reporter.—Intikhab Hanif