LAHORE, April 9: The Badshahi Mosque’s back wall has been vandalized by the Parks and Horticulture Authority by drilling holes into it to install lights to illuminate the Fort Road’s food street.

The PHA had installed a number of lights without the permission of the auqaf department, which is responsible for the repairs and maintenance of historic mosques and shrines.

The Badshahi Mosque has been declared a protected monument under the Antiquity Act 1975 and the Punjab Special Premises and Preservation Ordinance 1985.

Auqaf Additional Secretary Hassan Rizvi said the PHA had sought permission neither from his department nor from the Punjab archaeology department. He said the auqaf secretary had ordered to stop further vandalism when he learnt about it. A meeting of the auqaf and archaeology departments’ officials was scheduled to begin April 11 to discuss the issue, he added.

Archaeological Department (North Circle) officials told Dawn on Wednesday that the PHA wanted to install such lights on the Alamgiri Gate and the Lahore Fort, but they had been stopped it from doing so.

They said the PHA should have erected a parallel pole along the Badshahi Mosque to provide support to the lights or fix them with the joints of the mosque’s wall. They called this action a ‘crime.’

Restorer-Architect Dmitiry Roy told this reporter that red sand stone was prone to effects of climate, especially rain, and the holes would widen with the passage of time.

When contacted, PHA Director-General Kamran Lashari said he had consulted the archaeologists concerned about installing the lights. “No damage will be done by this action. Some people are trying to exaggerate little things without any reason, and it should be discouraged at all levels,” he said. The art and craft bazaar would provide an opportunity to the people to have fun, Mr Lashari added.

As many as 56 buildings along the Fort Road are being developed in accordance with the requirements of the proposed art and culture bazaar. There are 48 old and 10 new building on both sides of the 0.9-kilometre road stretch proposed to be remodelled. The Badshahi Mosque’s boundary wall along the proposed bazaar will also be lowered.

Besides, the tiled floor has been laid on the road stretch between the de’Montmorency College of Dentistry and the Ali Park. Footpaths have been replaced by walkways built with small tiles. Sitout areas with 15 to 18 feet width will be provided along the road.

The Fort Road running adjacent to the historic Lahore

Fort and the Badshahi Mosque will be remodelled and converted into an arts, crafts and food bazaar.